Keys to the Storehouse – Spotted Garment

Are you bringing your offering/repentance to the door of the Most Holy Place so the spots on your garments may be removed?

“Day by day the repentant sinner brought his offering to the door of the tabernacle and,

  • placing his hand upon the victim’s head, confessed his sins,
  • thus in figure transferring them from himself to the innocent sacrifice.
  • The animal was then slain. ‘Without shedding of blood’ (Hebrews 9:22), says the apostle [Paul], there is no remission of sin. ‘The life of the flesh is in the blood’ (Leviticus 17:11). The broken law of God demanded the life of the transgressor.
  • The blood, representing the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore, was carried by the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which was the ark containing the law that the sinner had transgressed.
  • By this ceremony the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the sanctuary. In some cases the blood was not taken into the holy place; but the flesh was then to be eaten by the priest, as Moses directed the sons of Aaron, saying: ‘God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation’ (Leviticus 10:17). Both ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin from the penitent to the sanctuary.

“Such was the work that went on, day by day, throughout the year.” The Great Controversy, 418.

When we bow down before the Lord, confessing our sins, day by day, we are giving them to Jesus, the Lamb of God. Our sins, the broken law of God, demand our life, but Jesus took our sins upon Himself and died for each one of us. We are transferring our sins to the Lamb of God as was done in the Old Testament sanctuary.

Now we go directly to Jesus in the Most Holy Place and confess our sins. But we must not continue to sin and confess, sin and confess. We must turn away from sin. We are told to “Keep your garments unspotted from the world. Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. Temptations may be all around you, but you are not compelled to enter into them. You may obtain strength from Christ to stand unsullied amid the pollutions of this corrupt age.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 50.

It is time to stand, day by day, for right and turn away from the wrong. Probation will be closing sooner than we think. It is time to “keep our garments unspotted from the world.”

Our Father: You have asked us to keep our garments unspotted from the world. Give us the courage to stand amidst the world and not gather any spots. Time is too short to allow spots upon our garments and it would be terrible if probation were to close and the spots were not removed. Please keep us alert that we may not lose out on eternal life. Amen.

Skins, Rags and Robes

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skin, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21.

Consider, for a moment, the clothing of Adam and Eve as they stood outside the Garden gate. Many artists have painted Adam and Eve walking around with what appears to be nothing but a big chunk of hide thrown over one shoulder. However, I do not think it was like that. With the Lord as their tailor, I do not believe it was at all crude and ugly, but nevertheless I am sure Adam did not look at Eve and say, “My, you look so nice this morning. I have never seen you look so nice!” He had seen her look much more beautiful when they were arrayed in the white robe of innocence before sin brought its blight into their experience.

In Christ’s Object Lessons, 311, there is an interesting description of these robes. “The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.”

I have often wondered, when I think about this robe of light, what exactly it might have been like. Remember when you were a young person, in grade school, and you were given a three cornered piece of glass and taught that if you looked into it in a certain way you could see all the colors of the rainbow in white light?

Could it be that the robe of light was like a prism? I like to think that Eve might have been able to awaken in the morning, when she was wearing that robe of light, and say, “I think I will emphasize red today. Or maybe there should be a little more violet.” It is entirely possible that this lovely garment was not limited to just one color, but had everything in it that the human heart could desire. Everything that a woman who craves beauty, as all women do, could really take pleasure in. But this is gone! This lovely garment is gone. This light that illuminated everything they came close to is gone.

Regaining the Robe

When Adam and Eve realized it was gone, they tried to replace it with fig leaves. The fig-leaf covering is symbolic of all of the ways, down through the ages, that men have invented to try to bring back the wonderful time when man wore the white robe of innocence. But nothing has worked. Nothing, devised by the hand of man, can do the job whether it is false gods or false religions or false philosophies or even human sacrifices, for some have gone that far. All this and more, men have done to try to find the peace, serenity and security that once were theirs when they wore the white robe of innocence. But there is only one way to bring back the white robe, and that process is described in a beautiful passage from Zechariah 3.

“And He showed me Joshua the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist Him. [By comparing Scripture with Scripture we find that this angel of the Lord was Jesus Christ, Himself.] And the Lord said unto Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel [Jesus]. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And unto him He said, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ And I said, ‘Let them set a fair mitre upon his head.’ So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. And the angel of the Lord [Jesus Christ] protested unto Joshua saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.’” Zechariah 3:1–7.

Here, Joshua, the high priest, is pictured with his garments filthy and stained with the sins which the people have confessed. Then the Lord declares that the filthy garments are to be taken away and then the white robe is placed upon him, the garment of Christ’s righteousness. He is then told to keep it white by walking in the way of the Lord and keeping His commandments. Notice that Joshua does not have eternal security at this time. There are still some years of life to be lived and victories to be won.

A Triple Application

In the inspired commentary on this passage, which we find in Testimonies, vol. 5, 467, and onward, our mind is directed to three separate and distinct applications of this symbolic picture that is placed before us in Zechariah 3. The first, which I have just mentioned, is simply the time for which it was originally written, the experience of the nation of Israel and Joshua their high priest.

On page 470, a different application is made. “As Satan accused Joshua and his people, so in all ages he accuses those who are seeking the mercy and favor of God. In the Revelation he is declared to be the ‘accuser of our brethren,’ ‘which accused them before our God day and night.’ The controversy is repeated over every soul that is rescued from the power of evil and whose name is registered in the Lamb’s book of life. Never is one received from the family of Satan into the family of God without exciting the determined resistance of the wicked one.” [All emphasis supplied unless otherwise noted.]

Every one of us is a brand plucked from the fire, and the same process of redemption as shown in the account of Joshua and the angel, is necessary in our lives. First there must be repentance. Then the filthy garment is taken away and a white robe put on, and then we are admonished to keep the garment clean and white. Notice what it says on page 472 of this same passage. “We cannot answer the charges of Satan against us. Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf. He is able to silence the accuser with arguments founded not upon our merits, but on His own. Yet we should never be content with a sinful life. It is a thought that should arouse Christians to greater zeal and earnestness in overcoming evil, that every defect in character, every point in which they have failed to meet the divine standard, is an open door by which Satan can enter to tempt and destroy them; and, furthermore, that every failure and defect on their part gives occasion to the tempter and his agents to reproach Christ. We are to exert every energy of the soul in the work of overcoming, and to look to Jesus for strength to do what we cannot do of ourselves. No sin can be tolerated in those who shall walk with Christ in white. The filthy garments are to be removed, and Christ’s robe of righteousness is to be placed upon us. By repentance and faith we are enabled to render obedience to all the commandments of God, and are found without blame before Him.”

A Special Application for the Last Days

The final application Sister White makes of these beautiful symbols are to those who are living in the last days of time. “Zechariah’s vision of Joshua and the angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God’s people in the closing up of the great Day of Atonement.” Ibid., 472.

“The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts.…Their only hope is the mercy of God, their only defense will be prayer. As Joshua was pleading before the Angel, so the remnant church, with brokeness of heart and earnest faith, will plead for pardon and deliverance through Jesus their Advocate.…Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins which he has tempted them to commit, and he presents these in the most exaggerated light, declaring: ‘Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Thy throne will not stand in righteousness and judgment. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them.’” Ibid., 472–474. It is an awfully sobering charge, is it not?

“But while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have not given themselves to the control of evil. They have put away their sins, and have sought the Lord.” All of the sin is in the past. They are not standing before the Lord still in a sinful condition. Joshua, the high priest, could never have stood before the Lord sinning. He would have been stricken dead in a flash of a second. Before the high priest came to the most holy place he prayed, repented and offered a sacrifice for his own sins and the sins of the people. And so, we should never dream that this picture is given to show us people who are sinning as they stand before God. It says they have sinned and they have repented.

For this group, the sequence of events in their experience is different than the last two we have examined. They have also sinned and repented and had the filthy garments removed and the white garment placed upon them, but they are not told to keep it white, because now they are eternally secure. They are beyond the reach of temptation. Probation has closed. The decree has gone forth, “He that is filthy, let him be filthy still and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11.

So we read, “The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb’s Book of Life, enrolled among the faithful to all ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon’s roar. Now they are eternally secure from the tempter’s devices.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 475. This white robe will never be defiled again. What a wonderful thing to look forward to when we will wear the beautiful white robe again and know that it can never be lost again.

The Filthy Garments Are Removed

Let’s look back just briefly at this beautiful scene that we have surveyed to insure that we grasped a very important point. Did you notice that in every case the filthy garments are removed. They are not covered up; they are completely taken away.

Missionaries tell us that in certain parts of the world if you give a lady a nice new dress, she will put it right on top of the one she is already wearing. And if you give her another one, she will put it on top of that. She would just keep piling one on top of another, covering the filthy with the beautiful. But that is not the way with the white robe of righteousness. Consider these interesting passages about what happens to the filthy garments, representing our sins.

“He removes the filthy garments.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 169, 170.

“The miserable, filthy garments of self must be destroyed.” Testimonies to Ministers, 186.

“He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin.” Steps to Christ, 53.

“Christ will command that their filthy garments be removed.” In Heavenly Places, 344.

“It is the garment woven in the loom of heaven, not to cover over our sins, for Jesus takes away the sin of the world, but to clothe us in the righteousness of Christ.” Signs of the Times, April 23, 1894.

“Sin must be taken away, the garment of Christ’s righteousness must cover the transgressor of God’s law.” Review and Herald, November 15, 1898.

“Christ’s white robe of righteousness will never cover any soul that is found in sin unrepented of and unforsaken.” Ibid., August 28, 1894.

“No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin. It is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct.” Desire of Ages, 555, 556.

Beloved, a change must take place in our lives in order for us to regain the white robe of purity and peace. We cannot do it with fig leaves. Nothing ever invented by the mind or the hands of man has ever resulted in bringing back the peace which the white robe gave. But we can have it. We can have it now, if we will ask, and when we receive it we must then labor to keep it as white as when it is given to us. Then we can look forward to that day when all possibility of it ever being defiled will be gone and it will be ours forever. Ours to keep and ours to rejoice in and ours to enjoy when all of those problems of skins and fig leaves and rags are laid aside.

Remember, the beautiful garment will never be placed on top of the filthy garment. Never! The filthy garment must be taken away and then the righteousness of Christ, the pure white robe will be ours. I would like to have my robe. Would you? I hope, dear reader, that you have on that robe and are striving to keep it white through the grace of Christ. However, if you have never come to Christ, forsaking your sins and asking for the robe of His righteousness, or if you once wore it, but you realize that you have lost it and you would like to come back, I present to you the beautiful gospel invitation of Jesus, “Come unto Me and I will give you rest.” His arms of love are open to you today.

Ralph Larson has retired from forty years of service as a pastor, evangelist, college teacher and seminary professor. He writes from his home in Cherry Valley, California.

The Filthy Garment, Part I

There are some people today who are discouraged by what they see taking place in the world and in Adventism, but I am excited! I am excited, because I see the signs, in the church and in the world, that Jesus is coming soon. When I read inspired writings and look around at what is happening, I realize that God foresaw all of this a long time ago. Although the events we see occurring are awful, it is encouraging that there is Someone who knows all about them, who said that this is what would happen, who knows how to protect us and take us out of this evil world.

I want to study with you a passage of Scripture that was written over 2,500 years ago. This passage of Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has a special meaning. It had a meaning then. It had a fulfillment then. But it was meant to have a special meaning and a special fulfillment in the last days as well—in the times in which you and I are living.

The Accuser

“And he showed me Joshua the great priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and the saw-tan was there, standing at his right hand.” Zechariah 3:1. In English, the Hebrew word saw-tan is converted to Satan. Satan is one of the few words in the English language that comes directly from the Hebrew language. The word saw-tan means “the adversary.” So the saw-tan, the adversary, was standing at his right hand “to accuse him.” In the book of Revelation, Satan is called “the accuser of the brethren.” Revelation 12:10.

Some months ago, when I was preaching a sermon, I was reading from Matthew 16:23 where Jesus, speaking to Peter, said, “You depart behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you do not understand the things of God, but those of men.” This verse clearly says, “Turning, He said to Peter, depart from Me, Satan.” I read that text and said, “Jesus, here, called Peter Satan,” and someone objected to that and wrote me a letter. They said, “Pastor John, you made a mistake, and it needs to be corrected. Ellen White says that Jesus was really speaking to Satan, not Peter.” (See Conflict and Courage, 312.) Well, I got my Bible out again and read it, and it says, “Turning, He said to Peter . . . .” I believe what Ellen White said—that Jesus was addressing Satan directly, but the Bible says that He was speaking to Peter. We must never take the insight of a later prophet and use that to nullify the Bible. From this text, I understand that when God rebukes the devil, He includes all the other intelligences that are allowing the devil to speak through them. Did you get that? When God rebukes the devil,—whether it is in Genesis 3:15, Matthew 16:23, or Zechariah 3:1—in that rebuke is included not only the archfiend himself but every other intelligence, whether angel or human being, that is allowing the devil to speak through them. I want to tell you, friends, there is a large number of people today who are allowing the devil to speak through them.

Zechariah says, “And he showed me Joshua the great priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and the saw-tan was there, standing at his right hand to accuse him.” Remember that the high priest represents God’s people. How does the saw-tan, or Satan, accuse God’s people? He usually does it through other human beings. We read, in Testimonies, vol. 5, 609: “An earnest effort should be made in every church to put away evilspeaking and a censorious spirit as among the sins productive of the greatest evils in the church. Severity and faultfinding must be rebuked . . . .”

Faultfinding and Supposition

You will find yourself in plenty of trouble when you rebuke “severity and faultfinding,” but Mrs. White states that it must be rebuked “as the workings of Satan.” When a person is engaging in faultfinding, who is speaking through them? It is Satan, the adversary. Remember, Zechariah 3:1 says that the saw-tan, the adversary, was “standing at his right hand, to accuse him.” Satan was going to accuse him to the Lord.

I have noticed, as I have read various references in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy on this subject, that when the devil accuses you, he always accuses you to someone else. When the Pharisees accused Jesus, they talked to his disciples about it, and when they accused the disciples, they talked to Jesus about it. Have you noticed this? Are you glad that God does not operate in this way?

When it is necessary for God to rebuke you or me, He will come directly to us. If you are praying, “Lord, show me what is wrong in my character,” believe me, the Lord will show you! He will not go and tell all your enemies about it, but He will show you personally.

Mrs. White continued: “Let all, in the fear of God and with love to their brethren, close their ears to gossip and censure. Direct the talebearer to the teachings of God’s word. Bid him obey the Scriptures and carry his complaints directly to those whom he thinks in error.” Ibid., 609, 610.

To whom is he supposed to carry his complaints? Is he supposed to carry his complaints to the head of the nearest ministry? No. Is he supposed to carry his complaints to the pastor of the church that person attends? What did the inspired writing say? It said that he is to “bid him to obey the Scriptures and carry his complaints directly to those whom he thinks in error”—not to the pastor.

I cannot count the many times people have either called me on the telephone, written me a letter, or come directly to my office wanting to tell me about someone that is in trouble. And, of course, they expect me to fix the situation. After I have read some of the passages from the Bible and inspired writings, I have decided that I do not even need to listen to such things.

If you have a concern, you need to go directly to the person for whom you have the concern and talk to them. Write them a letter; call them on the telephone; do not come to me. That is what the Bible says to do. (See Matthew 18:15–17.) Mrs. White continued: “This united action would bring a flood of light into the church and close the door to a flood of evil.” Ibid., 610.

Another statement that discloses how people allow the devil to speak through them—remember, when God rebukes the devil, He rebukes everyone who allows the devil to speak through them or to use them—is recorded in the October 17, 1899, Review and Herald: “There is a lack of frankness; the way is hedged up by supposition.” Supposition is one of the devil’s favorite ways in which to accuse people. Mrs. White explains how supposition works: “Some one discovers a supposed defect in a brother or sister, and he acts on this supposition, as if it were true. When criticism and faultfinding, and a desire for the highest place enter the church, the serpent, disguised, enters with them, leaving a trail of evil wherever he goes.” Ibid. Who is the serpent spoken of here? It is the saw-tan, the adversary, and it enters when there is criticism and faultfinding in the church.

So Satan, the adversary, the saw-tan, is at the right hand of God’s people. He is there to accuse, to find fault. This is one of the biggest problems among God’s people—has been in all ages and still is. Some people will overcome. Those who overcome will go to heaven; the people who do not overcome will not go to heaven.

“I saw that all the religion a few poor souls have consists in watching the garments and acts of others, and finding fault with them. Unless they reform, there will be no place in heaven for them, for they would find fault with the Lord Himself.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 145. If these people do not reform, will they be going to heaven? No.

“I feel an intense interest regarding every faultfinder; for I know that a quarrelsome disposition will never find entrance into the city of God.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, 271. If I have a quarrelsome disposition, I will not go to heaven.

Overcome Tendencies

After reading these statements, I have made the decision to overcome these tendencies. By the grace of God, I will not do these things anymore. How is it with you?

God has allowed some terrible things to happen so we will look at the inspired writings, wake up, and see what problems must be solved before Jesus can come and take us out of this world.

Numerous churches are in trouble. One of the reasons churches get into trouble is because they are lacking in church discipline. In some churches, you can say just about anything you please and still be a member of that church. If that is the situation in your church, it is going to be destroyed.

“When a person comes to a minister or to men in positions of trust with complaints against a brother or a sister, let the minister ask, ‘Have you complied with the rules our Saviour has given?’ And if he has failed to carry out any particular of this instruction, do not listen to a word of his complaint. In the name and Spirit of Jesus, refuse to take up a report against your brother or your sister in the faith. If members of the church go contrary to these rules, they make themselves subjects for church discipline, and should be under the censure of the church. This matter, so plainly taught in the lessons of Christ, has been treated with strange indifference. The church has either neglected her work entirely in the matter of correcting evil, or has done it with harshness and severity, thus wounding and bruising souls. Measures should be taken to correct this cruel spirit of criticism, of judging the motives of others, as though Christ had revealed to men the hearts of their brethren. The neglect of doing aright, with wisdom and grace, the work that ought to have been done, has left churches and institutions almost inefficient and Christless.” Review and Herald, April 16, 1895. When was the last time you were witness to someone being disciplined by the church for faultfinding or criticism? Is there a reason God’s people are in trouble? Yes!

Church Discipline

I want to present to you a couple of statements about this matter of church discipline, and I hope that you will pray about them and say, “Lord, help us to do in our church what You have told us to do.” If you do not, the devil will see to it that your church is destroyed.

There are certain things the Lord has said that are not to be allowed in the church. Here is one: “No church can be in a healthy, flourishing condition unless its leaders shall take firm, decided measures to repress this fault-finding, accusing spirit wherever it exists. Its indulgence should be made a matter of church discipline; for it is a violation of the law of God, a violation of the rules which Christ has laid down for preserving order in the church. If these mischievous talkers are not subjected to church discipline they become confirmed in their evil work, and God charges the guilt upon the church.” Review and Herald, October 19, 1886.

Satan, the saw-tan, stood at his right hand to accuse him. What about people who are working in institutions or ministries? “No one should be retained in any one of the Lord’s institutions who in a crisis fails of realizing that His instrumentalities are sacred. . . . The halfhearted and worldly, those who are given to gossip, who dwell on the faults of others, while neglecting their own, should be separated from the work.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 202. God’s work, in so many places, is so feeble, because we have not been following this instruction.

“It is the special work of Satan to cause dissension . . . .” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, 791. This is his special work. “We should be weeding out of our thoughts all complaining and faultfinding. Let us not continue to look upon any defects that we may see.” Ibid., 789. Notice she says that we should be weeding these things out of our thoughts. We should not even be thinking about them.

Help Each Other

You know, friends, if we spend our time looking at the defects of others, we will develop in ourselves the same defects at which we are looking, examining, watching, and studying.

Is there anything desirable in impatience? “The loud, harsh complaint, the fretful, fault-finding spirit, are evidences of a narrow, conceited mind. Impatience brings strife and accusation and sorrow.” Review and Herald, February 21, 1888.

What is the most powerful thing we can do to help our brother or sister who is very faulty? Mrs. White says, “A word of love and encouragement will do more to subdue the hasty temper and willful disposition than all the faultfinding and censure that you can heap upon the erring one.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 266.

How can we help each other to be cured from the faultfinding spirit? Ellen White suggested that “These notional, faultfinding ones would often cure themselves of the habit if they would go directly to the individual they think is wrong.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 145. How can we be cured of a faultfinding spirit? If such a person would make it a rule that, when someone else has done something wrong, they will not go to the local elder, deacon, pastor, or call some leader in a ministry trying to burden that person with the problem, but will go directly to the individual in question and talk to them, then possibly the problem would be resolved! Mrs. White says, “But it is easy to let the tongue run freely about this one or that one when the accused is not present.” Ibid. Oh, friend, we should never do that. If we find the need to point out something that is wrong with someone, the least we can do is talk with him or her directly, not talk about them when they are not present.

The Devil’s Work

As we have studied, we are in the shaking, and if we do not overcome on these points, remember, we will be engaged in the devil’s work. Zechariah 3:1 says that the saw-tan, the adversary, stood at his right hand to accuse him. Ellen White wrote: “Something will arise to test everyone. The great sifting time is just before us. The jealous and the faultfinding, who are watching for evil, will be shaken out. They hate reproof and despise correction.” Testimonies, vol. 1., 251.

The jealous and the faultfinding will be shaken out of God’s church. One of the awful things that hap-pens when someone is shaken out is that they usually do not get shaken out all by themselves. Someone goes out with them because of sympathy.

It was through sympathy that the devil caused the fall of about a third of the angels in heaven. And that is why, when someone gets shaken out, they never go out alone. Somebody else sympathizes with them. They sympathize with the one who has gotten reproved, and they hate the one who reproves. As Amos says, “They hate the one that rebukes in the gate.” Amos 5:10.

Ellen White said, “God will send reproof and warning to His people as long as they continue upon earth.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 180. There is only one way the reproofs can be made to stop and that is if we commit the unpardonable sin by refusing the invitation of mercy offered to us through Jesus Christ. When a nation or a person has gone so far, they have committed the unpardonable sin, and there is no hope for their salvation. It is then that the reproofs and warnings cease. (See The Desire of Ages, 324, 325.)

In another statement from inspired writings, we are told: “Bid him [the talebearer] carry his complaints directly to those whom he thinks in error.” Review and Herald, November 30, 1886.

As I have studied this subject, I have come to realize that God desires for us to be much happier than we are. We cannot be happy if our minds are full of all the things that are wrong in our church and with our brothers and sisters. If someone is doing something wrong, it is all right to go to them and talk with him or her about it, but we cannot be happy if we are dwelling on it all the time.

Ellen White wrote the following statement to a minister and a physician: “We must lay hold of the supreme Power, and close our ears to complaint and faultfinding. Crush this inclination, and empty the soul temple of evil-thinking. Let not one unhappy thought remain within.” This Day With God, 347. God does not want us to be full of unhappiness. He tells us to rid our minds of those unhappy thoughts!

There is Someone in charge, friends. Give Him a chance to work. Pray for the people who are in trouble. Go to them and show them how much you love them and how much you want to help them gain the kingdom of heaven.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

To be concluded . . .

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life Ministry and pastor of the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

The Filthy Garment, Part II

We need to not only guard our tongues but guard our ears, as well. During these last days, there are things all around us to which a Christian should not be listening. “My ears must be closed to evil. . . . The ears must not be defiled by listening to any gossip that faultfinding ones would have us hear, for I not only cause them to sin in allowing them to talk of others’ faults, but I sin myself in listening to them.” The Upward Look, 237.

Do you want to quit sinning? If it is a sin to listen to gossip and faultfinding, it is a sin to allow someone to tell it to us. We need to say to them, “I am sorry; you will have to stop talking. I cannot listen. You need to talk directly with the person.” “I can prevent much evil speaking in thus having ears consecrated to God. I can say before the evil is done, ‘Let us pray,’ then ask God to enlighten both our minds to understand our true relation to one another and our true relation to God.” Ibid.

As I have been studying this subject, I realize that if I could put this principle into strict practice, it could really decrease my workload! People call me from all over the world, wanting to tell me about someone else’s wrongs. I have decided that I do not need to listen to such things. These people need to go directly to the person about whom they are talking. Ellen White has told us that as long as we are in this world, there will always be something we can criticize. Did you know that? (See Review and Herald, February 16, 1897.) Things are never going to be perfect in this world.

Someone may think that what I am saying seems to be teaching the Pollyanna attitude, and in historic Adventism, we have never held to this teaching. We have always believed that we need to speak out and speak up when there is sin in the camp. Well, there is a godly way to speak out, and there is a saw-tan [Satan] way to do it. The godly way is to go directly to whomever you know is doing something wrong, talk to them in the meekness and tenderness of Christ, and see if you can help them bring their life into harmony with inspired writings.

If you cannot do this, let them go. If they are living in open sin, and you have gone to them two times, according to Matthew 18, it will be necessary to take their situation to the church for action. If the church will not act, and they allow someone with open sin to stay in that church, then you will have to get out of that church if you want to go to heaven.

When we say that we should not find fault, we are not talking about having a Pollyanna attitude and just letting anything go. This was not Jesus’ instruction. This was not Ellen White’s instruction. In the Review and Herald, July 20, 1905, Mrs. White wrote: “Because we are not to find fault, this does not mean that we are to pass by things that are wrong, without saying a word. If you see one doing wrong, go right to him, and tell him his fault in the way outlined in the Scriptures. In the meekness of Christ tell him the truth, and you may save his soul from death. But if you gloss over the mistakes, leaving those who have made them to think that they have done nothing wrong, you must share in the punishment, because you were unfaithful to your trust.”

So, we are to go directly to the person. We are not to go to someone else and tear down another’s reputation. In fact, Ellen White said that we are never to tear down the reputation. “Many are filled with self-importance and esteem themselves above their brethren. Such should let self die; let the carnal mind be crucified. If you have enmity, suspicion, envy, and jealousy in your hearts, you have a work to do to make these things right. Confess your sins; come into harmony with your brethren. Speak well of them. Throw out no unfavorable hints, no suggestions that will awaken distrust in the minds of others. Guard their reputation as sacredly as you would have them guard yours; love them as you would be loved of Jesus. Work for their interest, instead of seeking to tear them down that you may build yourself upon their ruins. It is Satan’s work to injure the brethren, and he loves to have you help him in it. But disappoint him; do not let him triumph over you.” Ibid., April 29, 1884.

“Do not accuse your brethren. Rather accuse yourselves. An untold amount of mischief is done by words of faultfinding and slander. Never tear down the reputation of a fellow being.” Ibid., November 10, 1910. What could happen in our churches if everyone, waiting for the return of the Lord, would say, “By the grace of God, I am never, ever going to tear down anyone’s reputation again”?

Disfellowshipping Sometimes Necessary

If a person is a faultfinder and they have been reproved for it but will not listen, they are to be disfellowshipped. Not only are they to be disfellowshipped but those who sympathize with them are also to be disfellowshipped.

“There are those members who are busybodies, speaking evil, sowing the seeds of doubt and infidelity, who pay no heed to the light God has given them in His Word. If we have but one church member who by his spirit, words, and influence seeks to counterwork the influence of the minister of Christ, labor with that one faithfully; and if after taking the steps required by Christ, he will not hear, will not change his course of action, then separate him from the church, and let him know the reason why the church cannot hold him in her fellowship. And if there are those who sympathize with him, who will not discern the right from the wrong, who, after patient instruction has been given them, choose to keep on the wrong side, let them also be suspended. God’s name must not be dishonored by murmurers, faultfinders, and those who are continually sowing seeds of disaffection.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 163, 164.

Do you realize, friends, that what we are talking about right now is the very thing that kept the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years? Of course, we have been in the wilderness for over 150 years.

Jesus has given us an example: “When Christ was living on this earth, how surprised would have been His associates, if, after becoming acquainted with Him, they had heard Him utter one word of impatience, one word of accusation or of faultfinding!” The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters, 16. His associates would have been shocked if they had ever heard Jesus say anything like that. Oh friend, if you could get a hold of this and if your church could get a hold of it, your church would not only be saved from destruction but it could prosper. People could be brought into your church, and the lambs of the fold, the people who are lost, would not be afraid to come into your church, because it would be a safe place. It would not be a place where people are tearing each other down and destroying each other’s reputations by faultfinding and gossip. It would be a place where people are building up one another. Instead of trying to tear people down by telling them their faults, they would be trying to help them to overcome. “He [Christ] expects those who love Him and believe in Him, to represent Him in character.” Ibid.

A Brand Plucked

Zechariah 3:2 says, “And Jehovah said to the saw-tan [the adversary], Jehovah gives a rebuke to you, the saw-tan. Even Jehovah gives a rebuke to you who has chosen this one at Jerusalem. Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

If you are a part of God’s people, you are one of those brands plucked from the fire. The New Testament talks about this. James talks about it in the last few verses of his book. Jude 23 talks about it. Paul talks about it in 1 Thessalonians 1:10: “We have been saved from the coming wrath through Jesus.”

What an awesome, awesome thing to think about. All of us, friends, were absolutely destined to destruction with no way out. We were headed for the fire, all of us, but the Lord said, “I am going to give you a second chance; if it is your desire, I will get you out of the fire.”

Filthy Garments

In Zechariah 3:3, it says, “And Joshua was clothed in filthy garments; he was standing before the angel.” Joshua was clothed in filthy garments. Friends, this is not just a description of history; this is a prophecy about God’s people at the end of time. It should be something that would motivate us to think very seriously. When the Holy Spirit wrote down in prophecy a description of God’s people in the end of time, He said, “They are clothed in filthy garments.” Filthy garments. Are you clothed in filthy garments? You should know, if you are spending time with the Lord and the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, that this is how you are clothed, because the Scriptures say so.

Friends, no one can enter into the kingdom of heaven with a filthy garment. The filthy garments are representative of the sins and the defective characters of God’s people.

The devil’s accusation is so difficult to meet, because it is true. I have noticed that when any human being is accused of anything, —this is true in the world, and it is true in the church—they immediately try to find some flaw in the accusation, so on a technicality, they can show that the accuser is wrong. That happens in the courts all the time; a technicality brings victory.

But friends, you cannot obtain the victory on a technicality of this charge, because the accusation is true. The devil is a liar, but this time he is telling the truth. “While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God as transgressors. The great deceiver has sought to lead them into skepticism, to cause them to lose confidence in God, to separate themselves from His love, and to break His law. Now he points to the record of their lives, to the defects of character, the unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer, to all the sins that he has tempted them to commit, and because of these he claims them as his subjects.” The Great Controversy, 484. The devil knows accurately the sins that he has tempted us to commit; he has a complete record, and he brings it to the Lord and says, “Look here. These are your people!” He has a record. The accusation is true.

What to do?

What are we going to do? As awful as this is, I have been encouraged, as I have studied these issues, because I saw that the Lord is going to give a command to “Take those filthy garments off.” (See Zechariah 3:4.) I do not know what you are doing in your private devotions, but in my private devotions, I am praying that the Lord will bring me to the position in my Christian walk where He can remove the filthy garments from me. I want them off. I want His clean clothing placed on me. (See Verse 5.)

“Who will now put on the white robe of Christ’s righteousness, which is without spot or wrinkle, so that Satan cannot in derision point to their filthy garments? Keep the soul clean and pure. You have no time to gather up the mistakes of others. Attend to your own mistakes, and make the erring ashamed by your kindly, sympathetic interest in them.” The Upward Look, 117.

Take encouragement in the following quotes:

“Satan tries to bring reproach against those who are trying to serve and honor God. He presents them in a questionable light, as those who are clothed with filthy garments. God says, take away the filthy garments. You have no right to put them upon my children. Take them away. My people may have imperfections of character. They may fail in their endeavors; but if they repent, I will forgive them.” Review and Herald, April 30, 1901.

“The robe of Christ’s righteousness is prepared for all those who will exchange their own sinful, filthy garments for the robe Jesus has prepared for them. This garment was furnished at great cost by the Son of God, and he presents it as a free gift to any one, rich or poor, high or low, wise or ignorant, who will exchange his sin-defiled garments for this robe of matchless purity.” The Youth’s Instructor, August 11, 1886.

“There are very many who cling to their filthy garments, which Christ stands ready to remove, choosing the spots and stains of sin rather than the pure robe of Christ’s righteousness. The pure and holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness and the name of God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal obedience to all of God’s commandments. There will be no covering up of sins and faults to hide the deformity of character; no robes will be half washed; but all will be pure and spotless.” Ibid.

“Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect. Jesus is perfect. Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, Take away the filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment. Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 184.

Are there unavoidable deficiencies? Evidently. We do not know what the unavoidable deficiencies are of somebody else. That is why we must not judge them nor find fault with them. We do not know! There are some people who have physical deficiencies that they cannot help. We can recognize those things. But there are people who have mental and spiritual deficiencies that they cannot help. Only the Lord knows, so we must not judge them. Now, there is no excuse for open sin, whatever the deficiency is. But Mrs. White says that Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies.

This is good news! We should be glad there is Somebody that knows! God does not ask us to do something that we cannot do without His help. He says, “Do not worry about the unavoidable deficiencies.” The Lord is going to make up for those, but are we doing our best, and are we asking the Lord to help us?

Lord’s Injunction

Zechariah 3:7 says, “Thus said Jehovah of hosts: If in my ways you will walk and if my injunction you will keep, also you will judge my house, and also you will keep my courts.” What does He mean when He says, “If you will keep my injunction”? What is the Lord’s injunction? Ellen White tells us very plainly that it is the Ten Commandments. (See Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 385.) The Ten Commandments is not ten laws. It is one law with ten parts, so it is spoken of in the singular throughout the Bible.

The encouraging thing to me, as I have studied this, is that there is going to be a group of people in the world who are going to have the filthy garments removed, and they are going to have the festal garments placed upon them. They are going to be the people who keep the injunction; they will keep the commandments. Friends, I want to be one of those people.

Jesus told the Jews, “If you do not believe that I am the one, you are going to die in your sins.” John 8:24. Many, many times I have prayed to the Lord asking that He does not let me die in my sins. That is all. If I die in this world, that is all right, but I do not want to die in my sins. If the filthy garments are going to be removed and if the festal garments are going to be put on, it is going to happen in this world—not in heaven.

“After the filthy garments have been removed, the subject changes, showing that this has its application in the future. If the people of God will walk in the ways of the Lord and keep His charge, which is the ten commandments, then the promise is that they shall judge His house and have places to walk among the angels.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 385.

There will be a group of people upon whom the Lord will look and say, “These people have repented. These people are not going any longer in the way of sin.” You see, the Lord cannot take away the filthy garments from most of the people in the world and give them festal garments, because they would get them dirty the first day of wearing them. A woman does not put on her wedding dress and then change the oil in her car. She does not put on the dress until she is going to keep it clean.

The same applies here. The Lord cannot take away our filthy garments and place upon us the festal garments until we are in a condition where we will not get the festal garments filthy. That is the condition, the experience, that I want. Is that the experience you want? If it is, ask the Lord to give it to you.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life Ministry and pastor of the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

The Robe of Christ’s Righteousness

In 11 Timothy 3:12, we find an absolute. It says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” It has always been the case, since Abel, and it will continue to be the case. We have before us, before the world comes to an end, a time of persecution such as never was.

“Because we are now settled here, we seem to think that we shall never be moved. But there will come a time when there will be a great scattering, a scattering that we do not now dream of, and it will be brought about in unexpected ways. Some of you will be taken away to remote regions, but God will have a work for you there.” Publishing Ministry, 92, 93.

“The time is coming when we shall be separated and scattered, and each one of us will have to stand without the privilege of communion with those of like precious faith; and how can you stand unless God is by your side, and you know that He is leading and guiding you?” This Day With God, 93.

Preparing for the Inevitable

What will prepare us for the inevitable? It will come. We can see it on the horizon today. That, which we have been told will come, is coming. It is coming, and it will take this world and everyone who is walking in harmony with the world by overwhelming surprise. But God does not want to have His children surprised.

Jesus said, in the Sermon on the Mount, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31–33.

Jesus admonishes us in this life to first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness all the time! We should be seeking first His righteousness, because His kingdom is involved in His righteousness. If we expect to someday walk into God’s kingdom, it will be through His righteousness. That is why Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

What is righteousness? Righteousness is doing what is right. Can a child understand what righteousness is, based on that definition? Yes, a child can understand that righteousness is right doing, as opposed to wrongdoing.

Righteousness Revealed

Two verses tell us where God’s righteousness is revealed: “Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.” “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments [are] righteousness.” Psalm 119:142, 172. So we can find God’s righteousness, if we are seeking for it, in God’s Law or His Word. In the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, we are going to find God’s righteousness; it is going to be fully distinct from what the world calls righteous.

To what will the man or woman who seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, finds it, and lays hold on it be likened? “Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight [is] in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Why is this person so taken up with the Law of God that he meditates upon it day and night? It is simply this: he has found in that law the righteousness of God. “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1–3.

Are we like that? Are we fresh, alive Christians? Do we have fresh fruit to offer people? If we do not, then we have not found the righteousness of Christ. We are told to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. His righteousness is what we need.

There is another place that we can find the righteousness of God revealed. The law ends somewhere. Did you know that? There are many Protestant churches today that would say, Yes, we are in perfect agreement; the law ended at Calvary. That is not what I am saying, and that is not what God’s Word says. It says, “Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4. Did Jesus, in His life, honor God’s Law? Yes, He did. The Law of God was written upon the heart of Jesus. (See Psalm 40:8.) Jesus was the perfect embodiment of God’s Law in humankind. For 33 years on this earth, He lived out the law. Did He ever sin against God’s Law? No, we are told that He had no sin. Could He have sinned? Yes, He could have transgressed God’s Law, but He did not; He chose not to sin. Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Does that mean the law ends? No, it means that Jesus is the embodiment of the Law of God, and when we choose to accept Jesus into our lives, we are accepting the fullness of God’s Law and its righteousness.

What then is the genuine quality of all righteousness? What is the essence of all righteousness? The answer is found in Christ’s Object Lessons, 97, 98: “The essence of
all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right—because right doing is pleasing to God.”

Faith an Attribute

That leads us to Hebrews 11:6. Paul said, under the inspiration of 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.” That means that a part of righteousness is faith. You see, that is a quality of righteousness, His righteousness. Does He give that to us? Yes, He does. He gives a measure of faith to every person that comes into this world, but what you do with that faith is up to you. Faith is an attribute of righteousness.

Garment We Choose

Unto what is His righteousness likened? What is this righteousness that is found in God’s Law and is found in the life of Jesus likened unto? “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:7, 8. God’s righteousness is likened unto a garment that we wear, a robe—His robe of righteousness.

There is only one other garment that we can wear. We are wearing one of two garments. “But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. We are either clothed in filthy rags that represent our own righteousness, or we are clothed in the robe of Christ that represents His righteousness. Let us verify, from Scripture, whose righteousness is the righteousness of the saints. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corin-thians 1:30. Christ is made our righteousness if we have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. That means that we have done something with the filthy rags. Can we be wearing both at the same time? No, we cannot.

Righteousness Received

When will the saints, spoken of in Revelation 19:7, 8, be clothed with this righteousness? The message to Laodicea, the last church, the last remnant of God’s people upon the face of the earth before Jesus comes, tells us. Unbelievably, these people are naked—that is the same thing as being clothed in filthy garments. “I [Jesus, the end of the Law for righteousness] counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18. Based on this text, the saints receive the righteousness of Christ before Jesus comes.

Why do they have to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ before He comes? “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5. When does Jesus do the blotting out of the names? In the judgment—the judgment that takes place before Jesus comes. That is shown in Revelation 14:7: “The hour of his judgment is come.” It happens before the Second Advent that is revealed in Revelation 14:14. So the judgment takes place before the blotting out of names.

Revelation 3:5 shows that God’s people have received the righteousness of Christ before He comes the second time. In fact, that righteousness, which is His righteousness that clothes them, allows Jesus to blot out their sins and retain their names in the heavenly books.

A Gift

Notice one thing more in Revelation 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.” The process of sanctification brings us to the point where we are overcomers so we can receive clean, white robes of righteousness. Justification and sanctification are a combined process that produces righteousness. Righteousness is right doing by faith. The whole plan of redemption revolves around God seeking to get humanity back to doing what is right.

Here is a people who have the robe of Christ’s righteousness on them, they are overcoming sin in their lives as a result, and this is their testimony: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation.” What are these garments of salvation? They are the robe of His righteousness. Salvation does not come apart from this robe. There are people today who say it really does not matter if you do right or wrong, as long as you have good desires toward God. That is wrong! That is not what God says. “He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10. Notice who imparts this righteousness to us. It says, He, the One who is righteous, has covered us with His robe of righteousness. Jesus Christ does everything right and at the right time for us. It is a gift to us. “The wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ.” Romans 6:23. What is that gift? It is His robe of righteousness.

Working For or With

No doubt this robe is a gift, but our next text reveals that we must choose to put it on. Job says, “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.” Job 29:14. What is Job saying? He is saying, I put on Christ’s righteousness. Isaiah just said that Jesus puts the robe on us, but this points out the fact that we must cooperate with God in receiving this robe of righteousness. We must put it on; we must receive it. How do we do that? How do we put the robe of Christ’s righteousness on and yet receive it as a gift from Him?

Remember 1 Corinthians 3:9, “For we are laborers together with God.” It does not say for God, it says with God, and there is a difference in those prepositions. There is a difference between working for God or working with God. Jesus points out the distinct difference in Matthew 7:22, 23. He there addresses a people who were working for Him. They stand in the day of His coming clothed in their own righteousness. Jesus says that many will come to Him in that day and say, “Lord, Lord, were we not working for you?” And in essence Jesus says, yes, you were working for Me for your own glory, but you were not working with me for your salvation.

Putting On; Putting Off

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. . . . Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another.” Colossians 3:8–10, 12, 13 (first part). Paul says that if you are going to put on, you are going to have to put off.

Is this not practical admonition? He names things that are part of the robe of man’s righteousness, that are, in the sight of God, as filthy rags. Man can justify himself, even in anger, and believe he is right. That is man’s righteousness, and it amounts to self-justification, but self-justification in God’s eyes amounts to nothing. Man has no reason to justify himself in his own filthy rags and be satisfied with his righteousness when God has revealed so clearly His righteousness, which we so badly need.

This putting on and putting off is learning to say yes to righteousness and to say no to sin.

Practicalities

“God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. . . . Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 187. These testing points are defects of character. That is what this robe of righteousness is all about. God is going to reveal to us where we are deformed so that we can reform.

God leads each one of us, step by step. All transgression of God’s Law and of His righteousness comes right back to selfishness. If there was ever a time for God’s people to have revival and reformation in their midst, it is now! Do you know where it begins? It begins with each one of us individually. God will point out things in our lives, things with which we have become comfortable; things with which we have been satisfied. We think we are all right, but God is going to point out things, and we will discover that we are not all right. How do we make it right? Paul says we make it right by putting off that which is wrong and putting on that which is right. I like the thought that God is willing to spend enough time with me to show me where I am wrong, because I am coming to a determination that I want to be right with Him; I want to have on that robe of righteousness. I want to experience the full intention of His mind for me in my creation. We can do that, if we are willing to accept the life that He gives us, even if it points out something that we need to put off.

The Wedding Garment

How important is the subject about which we are studying? The Bible answers that question in the parable of the guests who came to the wedding supper. The invitation first went to the nation of Israel, and they treated it with indifference. Eventually, when Jesus sent another message to Israel, they killed him, and judgment fell upon Israel. At that time, He told His disciples to go into the highways and the byways and call any who would listen, because He wanted someone to come to His supper. Jesus wants as many as will to come to Him and have supper with Him. The disciples went out and gathered in people of all different kinds—bad and good, sincere and insincere. This represents His church! Jesus is going to make a distinction some day; it has not been made yet.

The Bible says, “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.” What is this wedding garment? It is the robe of Christ’s righteousness, but this man did not think it mattered whether he had on the robe or not. He thought that if he praised God and said he believed in Jesus, that would be enough, but when Jesus came in to investigate the guests, he found this man empty; he was naked; he was clothed in his own filthy garments of self-righteousness.

“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.” He was speechless, because he knew better. The light that had shined upon this man’s pathway was the same light that shines upon our pathways, and we will be inexcusable in that day, if we have on our own robe of righteousness and not the robe of Jesus’ righteousness.

This man said nothing. He could not say, Well, let me tell you why; have a seat, it is a long story. He had nothing to say—not a long story or a short story but no story. We will be condemned of ourselves on that day, because we sit and listen to God’s Word, and if we are going away and not doing, we will be found as speechless as was this man.

“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few [are] chosen.” Matthew 22:11–14.

Brothers and sisters, our righteousness will not cut it. This is the strongest language that Jesus could portray regarding what is going to happen to the lost. Jesus does not want us to be lost. Can we be among the few who are chosen? Yes, we can. But can we be among the many? Yes. It does not matter whether or not you call yourself a Christian, because many who call themselves Christians are going to find themselves in the same situation in which this man found himself when Jesus comes again.

Charity

Paul finishes his admonition about putting on and putting off by telling what is the highest quality—the ultimate quality—of God’s righteousness. Remember, you will have to take off something before you can put this on. He says, “And above all these things, [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14. What is charity? It is love. It is a principle of righteousness, and the highest quality of righteousness is love—to be robed in God’s love.

If righteousness is right doing, and the essence, or the greatest quality of God’s righteousness is love, is it right, then, to love God? Yes. Would it be right to love our neighbor as ourselves? Yes. Paul says, in Romans 13:10, “Love [is] the fulfilling of the law.” He is saying the same thing that John says in 1 John 5:3, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Do you know why they are not grievous? Because they are right. Nothing that is right is wrong, and nothing that is right is grievous.

God is righteous, and He wants us to be righteous. The cost of being what He intends for us to be is only the putting off of all the filthy rags. Some of those rags will be engulfed with cherished idols, and we are going to have to sacrifice everything. When we sacrifice everything for Jesus, we eventually get everything, but when we sacrifice for sin—and there is a sacrifice involved when we sin—we get nothing. Always remember that—we get nothing. We are going to be lost.

A sobering text, of which we need to ask God to make us mindful, is Revelation 22:11. We are living in the hour of judgment. (See Revelation 14:7.) That is the first angel’s message. Within the context of that hour, the curtain will come down—probation will close. The door will close; mercy will no longer plead for the sinner. We are living in that hour. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

There is coming a time when we will no longer have an opportunity to remedy anything in our experience. We shall stand where we are. If we are lost, we are lost; if we are saved, we are saved. It is a sobering time in which we find ourselves living.

Motivation of Love

What is the only thing that can motivate us to do what is right for the right reason? The right reason is to be loyal to Jesus. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Ellen White echoes the same sentiments: “The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer.” That is the only thing that will motivate us to put off and to put on, to be determined to shed our filthy rags and have on the robe of His righteousness. The only motivation is His love.

Do you know how to get His love? There is only one way. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. Until we come to the recognition that Jesus Christ has loved us personally, individually, with an everlasting love, apart from every soul in this world, until we recognize and accept that reality in our lives, we will never love Him as we should. Once we recognize that He has given everything for us—when we lay hold of the reality of Calvary, when we see what He did for us and the love that He has for us—we are going to be moved to a higher calling. God is ready to lift us up to that higher calling.

Ellen White wrote: “The days of our probation are fast closing. The end is near. To us the warning is given, ‘Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.’ Luke 21:34. Beware lest it find you unready. Take heed lest you be found at the King’s feast without a wedding garment.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 319.

Craig Meeker is Director of the Bible Correspondence School at Steps to Life. He may be contacted by e-mail at: craigmeeker@stepstolife.org or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

White Robes of Righteousness, Part I

In studying about the final events and the final hour in which we are living, the following statement came to my attention: “The bright light going among the living creatures with the swiftness of lightning represents the speed with which this work will finally go forward to completion.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 754. Ellen White is referring in this statement to Ezekiel 1:13, part of a vision given to Ezekiel. Other references about lightning in the Bible reveal something outstanding. Matthew 28:3, speaking of the angel of the Lord, states: “His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.” Why should this be mentioned? Let us consider and study this phrase and its meaning in this mighty final hour.

  1. Angels. Angels mentioned in the New Testament were dressed in white: “raiment white as snow,” Matthew 28:3; “long white garment,” Mark 16:5; “two angels in white,” John 20:12; “two men [angels] stood by them in white apparel,” Acts 1:10; “the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen,” Revelation 15:6.
  2. Jesus Christ. At the time Jesus Christ our Redeemer was transfigured, “His raiment was white as the light.” Matthew 17:2. Mark 9:3 states, “His raiment became shining, exceedingly white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.” Luke 9:29 says that as Jesus prayed, “His raiment [was] white [and] glistering.” In Revelation 1:13, 14, we read that the Son of man was clothed with a garment down to the foot, and “His head and [His] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow.”
  3. The Father. Consider now the Father, the Ancient of Days. “The Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool.” Daniel 7:9. Verse 13 tells that the Son of man joined the Ancient of days. John saw a “great white throne,” Revelation 20:11, before which man was judged, “every man according to their works.” Verse 13.
  4.  24 Elders. In Revelation 4:4, the 24 elders are “clothed in white raiment” around the throne of God.
  5. Heaven’s Horses. White signifies purity, cleanliness, godliness, and holiness and righteousness of the Lamb of God. We see in Revelation 19:11 that Jesus is riding a white horse, and that “the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Verses 7, 8. Verse 14 tells us, “The armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
  6. Coming of Jesus. Ellen White wrote: “Our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had appeared, about half as large as a man’s hand, which we all knew was the sign of the Son of man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer and became lighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud.” Early Writings, 15. Revelation 19:11-16 describes the coming of the Lord with the angelic host dressed in white. Revelation 14:14 tells us that the Son of man is coming on a white cloud. Revelation 19:17-21 describes the destruction of the wicked who preferred to wear fig-leaf garments of their own devising to their final destruction, rather than the white raiment of Christ’s righteousness and eternal life.
  7. Earth’s Human Family. As we consider the heavenly beings the Father, the Son, and the angelic hosts as white as snow¾what does this mean to humanity and to God’s people? White is maximum lightness, holiness, godliness; it is heavenly. White is in stark contrast to black, which signifies darkness, wickedness, and hell.

When fresh snow has fallen, it is sparkling white without spot or blemish whatsoever. What God is longing to teach the human family in darkness on this earth is the contrast to the light, white heavenly atmosphere. However, before we can be dressed in garments of white in heaven, we must have garments of white on earth. If heavenly beings are dressed in all white, what does God expect of the human family?

From the Beginning

Let us begin our study at the beginning creation. Genesis 2:7 and verses 21-25 state that the Lord God created Adam and Eve, and both were naked but not ashamed. “The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. But when sin entered, they severed their connection with God, and the light that had encircled them departed. Naked and ashamed, they tried to supply the place of the heavenly garments by sewing together fig leaves for a covering.

“This is what the transgressors of God’s law have done ever since the day of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.

“But this they can never do. Nothing can man devise to supply the place of his lost robe of innocence. No fig-leaf garment, no worldly citizen-dress, can be worn by those who sit down with Christ and angels at the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311.

Adam and Eve had the white robe of innocence, the robe of light, garments of heavenly innocence, until sin entered. They possessed the white robe of heavenly purity and godliness. All heavenly beings and the contents of heaven are associated with white.

Then Came “Knowledge”

“Adam and Eve both ate of the fruit, and obtained a knowledge which, had they obeyed God, they would never have had,¾an experience in disobedience and disloyalty to God,¾the knowledge that they were naked. The garment of innocence, a covering from God, which surrounded them, departed; and they supplied the place of this heavenly garment by sewing together fig-leaves for aprons.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1084.

“Had Adam and Eve never disobeyed their Creator, had they remained in the path of perfect rectitude, they could have known and understood God. But when they listened to the voice of the tempter, and sinned against God, the light of the garments of heavenly innocence departed from them; and in parting with the garments of innocence, they drew about them the dark robes of ignorance of God. The clear and perfect light that had hitherto surrounded them had lightened everything they approached; but deprived of that heavenly light, the posterity of Adam could no longer trace the character of God in His created works.” Ibid.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they saw their nakedness immediately, and sewed fig leaves as garments. This was their own devising. (Genesis 3:6, 7.) “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I [was] naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Genesis 3:8-11.

Adam and Eve were hiding. As God looked for them, Adam indicated that they were afraid, because they were naked. Adam’s sin revealed it all; both to him and to us today.

Mercy of God

What a loving God we have, however, for He declared to the serpent, in verse 15, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” God presented the gospel that though Christ would suffer for humanity’s sake on the cross (bruise His heel), Satan will suffer destruction by the cross (head to be bruised). This gave hope to Adam and to the human family. God lovingly made a coat of skins for Adam and Eve to replace the fig-leaf aprons. (Genesis 3:21.) How much God cares for His created beings!

“When the curse was pronounced upon the earth and upon man, in connection with the curse was a promise that through Christ there was hope and pardon for the transgression of God’s law. Although gloom and darkness hung, like the pall of death, over the future, yet in the promise of the Redeemer, the Star of hope lighted up the dark future. The gospel was first preached to Adam by Christ. Adam and Eve felt sincere sorrow and repentance for their guilt. They believed the precious promise of God, and were saved from utter ruin.” Review and Herald, April 29, 1875.

God pleads with His people today, through the revelation of the cross, with mercy and love. He desires the human family to reveal Christ and His righteousness. God realizes our deep need and identifies our problems and our needs.

Rags to Robes

“But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6.

An example of God’s mercy is given in Zechariah 3:3, 4. When Joshua the high priest was shown clothed with filthy garments, the Lord said, “Take away the filthy garments. . . . Thine iniquity is passed from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of garments.” So also will God take our filthy garments and we will be new creatures in Christ (11 Corinthians 5:17), and we will walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).

“None are so low, so corrupt and vile, that they cannot find in Jesus, who died for them, strength, purity, and righteousness, if they will put away their sins, cease their course of iniquity, and turn with full purpose of heart to the living God. He is waiting to strip them of their garments, stained and polluted by sin, and to put upon them the white, bright robes of righteousness; and He bids them live and not die.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 453.

“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. ‘All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.’ Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God ‘was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.’ Sin is defined to be ‘the transgression of the law.’ 1 John 3:5, 4. But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.’ Psalm 40:8. When on earth, He said to His disciples, ‘I have kept My Father’s commandments.’ John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311, 312.

“He [God] would have us comprehend something of His love in giving His Son to die that He might counteract evil, remove the defiling stains of sin from the workmanship of God, and reinstate the lost, elevating and ennobling the soul to its original purity through Christ’s imputed righteousness. The only way in which the fallen race could be restored was through the gift of His Son, equal with Himself, possessing the attributes of God.” That I May Know Him, 206.

God desires to restore us to the original purity of the white robe of innocence. He will change our robes of human devising, the fig-leaf garments, to His robe of righteousness, which is whiter than snow. God is longing, waiting with long patience, that His people be clothed with His perfect character, the garment of righteousness, for His coming draweth nigh.

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:7, 8. Today is our opportunity to form this holy, righteous character for the eternal home.

Garments of Salvation

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10. God is longing to clothe His people¾He gives them the garment of salvation. Notice again¾to clothe us with the garment of salvation.

“Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2.

The garment of salvation reveals that God is our salvation, whom we trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Thereby, we are not afraid, for God is our strength and our song, and He has become our salvation.

As stated in Isaiah 61:10, the Lord has covered us with the robe of righteousness; that is, His white raiment. We are totally in Christ, and He has become our salvation, our hope, and our guide for eternity.

Preparation

God offers much to get us started, prepared to wear that white robe. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. Notice the longing of God to remove all sin. Notice the phrase, “white as snow,” and the word, “wool.” These are the characteristics of God the Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour mentioned above in the Word of God. They long to pass on to God’s people these qualities and purity.

David was convicted, and he longed for a clean heart and to be purged and to be whiter than snow. “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:2, 7, 10. He longed to be recreated with a clean heart and to be renewed.

“When the light from Christ shines into our souls, we shall see how impure we are; we shall discern the selfishness of motive, the enmity against God, that has defiled every act of life. Then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as filthy rags, and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us from the defilement of sin, and renew our hearts in His own likeness.” Conflict and Courage, 292.

God’s Longing

From Isaiah 57:14, 15, we read that God “Shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Do not hinder anyone from growing and working in and for the Lord, for God is longing to revive His people with a humble and contrite spirit and to wash us with His own blood. “And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” Revelation 1:5. Not only are we washed and regenerated by Christ our Saviour, but we are also being renewed by the Holy Spirit for the hope of eternal life: “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7.

“He [Jesus] made the infinite sacrifice, not only that sin might be removed, but that human nature might be restored, rebeautified, reconstructed from its ruins, and made fit for the presence of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 537.

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire.” Matthew 3:11. Jesus was preparing to be baptized by John the Baptist. John the Baptist, realizing the solemnity of the baptism of Christ, proclaimed that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire, which cleanses us and purifies from all earthliness. Verse 16 shows the work of the Holy Spirit. He descended on Jesus like a dove, as Jesus was being baptized, to demonstrate how we must be “born again.” Read John 3:3-8.

If we were born again but drifted away, we should be rebaptized. “The Lord calls for a decided reformation. And when a soul is truly reconverted, let him be rebaptized. Let him renew his covenant with God, and God will renew His covenant with him. . . . Reconversion must take place among the members, that as God’s witnesses they may testify to the authoritative power of the truth that sanctifies the soul.” Evangelism, 375.

“If we would be overcomers, we must search our hearts to be sure that we are not cherishing anything that is offensive to God. If we are, we cannot wear the white raiment that is here promised. If we would stand before God in the white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints, we must now do the work of overcoming.” Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 138.

“Let us each examine ourselves carefully to see if we are in the faith; let us be diligent to make sure work for eternity. Jesus says that he will confess the name of the overcomer before his Father, and before the holy angels. If we would have our names honored before the heavenly host in the day of God, we must obtain the white raiment now. We must clothe ourselves with humility as with a garment. Every step heavenward must be a step of humility.” Ibid., 139.

To be continued . . .

A real estate broker in Collegedale, Tennessee, for 15 years, Bill Humeniuk decided to retire early so he would be able to spend more time in Bible study and working for the Lord. Five years ago, he started Advent Hope Ministries, Inc., which is primarily a “Bibles for Africa” project. He may be contacted by e-mail at: adventhope@hughes.net or at: www.biblesforafrica.org.

The Seven Churches, Part VIII: The Church of Sardis

The people of Sardis had a name depicting they were alive, but they were dead. They thought they were alive, because they had followed Martin Luther. Because he was alive, they thought they were alive as well. They, for some reason, thought that if they were followers of someone who was spiritually alive, they would be alive also.

That is especially applicable to our young people. Have you ever heard about preachers’ kids or teachers’ kids or doctors’ kids—kids of people who are especially religious? Sometimes those kids grow up to be absolutely irreligious! That can happen. Do you know why it can happen?— because, as the followers of Luther who said, “Luther’s great, and I am a follower of him. He is a Christian; I must be a Christian too,” they grow up thinking, “My mother is a Christian; my father is a Christian. They go to church; I go to church. They go to Sabbath School; I go to Sabbath School. We have family worship. They are Christians; I must be a Christian too!” These people fool themselves. It is one thing to fool others, but it is worse to fool yourself.

It was a noble act for Martin Luther and even his followers to put their lives on the line for the gospel. The message had to be lived. It had to be more than just heard and believed. It had to be lived.

Implanted Word

In James 1:21, we read: “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” The Word must be received within, not just heard. Is there something in the Word that can save our souls? Yes, if it is implanted, if it is written on our hearts and minds.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Verse 22. It is bad to deceive others, but it is worse to deceive yourself. That is the picture of Sardis. They thought they were alive, but they were dead. That is the picture of Laodicea. They thought they were rich, but they were poor. This will be the picture of most Christians as Jesus is about to come again. They think they are Christians, but they have absolutely deceived themselves.

I hope and pray with all of the fervor I have that your church is filled with the Holy Spirit and the love of God, and that it is on fire for Him. But I want to tell you, it does not matter whether the whole church is on fire for God; that will not save you, unless you are on fire for God too. Being in the midst of Christians will never save you; you must become a Christian too.

James continues, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” Verses 23, 24. I guess he supposes that Jesus will cover him with His righteousness regardless of what he does, as long as he hears the Word and accepts Him. He immediately forgets what kind of a man he was. It is not that important, you see, for he thinks his sins are forgiven.

Hearers or Doers

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in it], and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” Verse 25. What does it say in Revelation? Those are blessed who read and hear and keep the things that are written therein.

Many of the Reformers were hearers, and they outwardly performed the work. Inwardly, they were unconverted. In short order, they allowed Jesuits to start schools in their midst, and outwardly, they were good schools. They decided to send their young people to these schools, because they wanted them to have a liberal education. They put the arts and the sciences above the integrity of the faith. Were they truly converted? No, they were not.

Follow the Leader?

Moreover, the early Protestants trusted their leaders. However far their leaders went, they went equally as far. When their leaders died, they died. They thereby showed that their faith was not built upon God but upon people, upon their leaders. When others came along and preached something different or taught more light, they persecuted them.

When Wesley appeared, these good, strong Protestants threw stones at him and threatened his life more than once. In one attempt to kill him, they found a wild bull, and, by poking it, they got it to cause a great disruption by stampeding right through the audience, straight toward Wesley. If it had not been for the grace of God, these Protestant brethren would have killed Wesley, just as the Catholics killed the earlier Protestants.

These later Protestant Reformers began to understand the dangers of building their faith on their leaders. John Robinson, a pastor of the Pilgrims, was not able to come to America, because he was too old by the time they finally crossed the ocean. When the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, he preached a closing sermon. He said, “Brethren, we are now erelong to part asunder, and the Lord knoweth whether I shall live ever to see your faces more. But whether the Lord hath appointed it or not, I charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth of my ministry; for I am very confident the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His holy word.” The Great Controversy, 291, 292.

Oh, if only the early Protestant Reformers could have heard that word and accepted it. We must learn from God’s instrumentalities. The Bible says that He ordains preachers, evangelists, and teachers. If we do not hear the word that God sends to us through human instrumentalities, most of us will never hear it. We will be lost.

I think of the eunuch out in the desert. (Acts 8:27–39.) If he had not listened to Philip, would God have somehow raised up another instrumentality? Would He have said, “Well, he was not good enough for you; I will raise up somebody else”? No, the eunuch would have gone down to his grave in ignorance. I think of the centurion and how God sent Peter to enlighten him. (Acts 10.) If he had rejected Peter, would God have sent someone else? No, he had his one opportunity.

God uses human instrumentalities, and we need to listen when God sends them, but our faith must be grounded, not in the people, but in God. As with Paul, we are counseled that we should study the Word daily to find whether those things are so. (Acts 17:11.) Then, when the Word is preached, it must be more than believed; it must be lived. We must not just know the truth; we must be converted.

Death of Reformation

For the great majority of the Protestant followers, this was not the case, and that is why the Protestant Reformation was cut short. The historians look back to that era of the 1500s, when the Protestant Reformation mowed down the Catholic theology until whole countries, one after the other, became Protestant. It appeared that the Catholic Church was dead, never to recover again. But the Protestant Reformation died, and the deadly wound, as the Bible calls it, was healed. (Revelation 13:3, 12.) The Bible says that there is coming a time when the entire world will once again follow after the beast. (Revelation 13:3.)

The Protestants did the same thing as did the Israelites when they entered into Canaan. God had told them to conquer all of Canaan, to take all of their images, and to get rid of their religion. But they only conquered a few and then decided they were tired of fighting and would rather settle where they were and plant gardens. Then they let the Philistines live among them. They told themselves that there was no reason for concern, because they were stronger than the Philistines. But sooner or later the Philistines came back to conquer them.

A Good Beginning and Ending

In Revelation 3:2, God says, “Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” It is not just a good beginning that assures one’s position in heaven; it is a good ending as well! We must remain faithful; we must grow every day.

No one is ever getting to heaven by just making a good beginning. We are not getting to heaven unless we also continue unto the end. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” That is a conditional statement. There are a lot of people who are claiming, “once saved, always saved.” They think that as long as they make a good beginning, that is all that is necessary. That is a soothing philosophy from the devil, which he has spread upon the church of today.

That is what happened in Sardis. There were many people who made a good beginning by listening to Martin Luther, but they did not continue to the end. They grew discouraged. In the last days, we are told, the same thing will happen. In Matthew 24:13, Jesus said, “He who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Parable of Virgins

In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable about some virgins, or bridesmaids, who went out to a wedding, and as it was the custom to do in Bible times, they waited for the bridegroom and his attendants. Back then, the wedding attendants went into the wedding with the bridegroom, so they waited for him. When the bridegroom went in, the door was shut and locked.

This is similar to an old tradition in America. In the past, when the wedding began, the door was locked, and no one else could enter. If a guest arrived five minutes late and the marriage ceremony had begun, he or she was left outside the wedding.

So the bridesmaids waited. The trouble was, the bridegroom did not come when he was expected. They had made a good beginning, but they had not prepared for a delay. The delay was a lot longer—the trial a lot greater—than what they had anticipated. By the time the bridegroom finally arrived, half of the virgins’ lamps had gone out, so they had to go in search of more oil. While they were searching, the bridegroom went into the marriage with those who were ready, and closed the door.

At the close of time, half of the virgins will still be looking for oil for their lamps, but the door of probation will be shut. The bridegroom will then enter into the marriage supper (Revelation 19:9) with those who are ready and waiting. Those who will be left out will be left out forever, and those who are taken in will be taken in forever. It is not just a good beginning that counts.

Complete to the End

In giving prophecy seminars, many times have I seen people who have come and heard and listened and enjoyed and believed and accepted, but they never went on to complete what was beginning. What good did it do them, if they did not complete the beginning? It did not do any good at all. Dear friends, all of us have made a good beginning. But what counts is how we finish the race. Are we going to finish?

Jesus spoke of two classes of Christians in Matthew 7, represented by two builders who both heard the word. One did as he was told and built his house on the rock. When the storm came, the house stood. The other heard but did not do, and his house was likened to a house that was built on the sand. He also had a Christian house; they were both Christians. But when the storm came—and I want to tell you, the storm is coming to every life; no one is getting to heaven without having to weather a storm—the house did not stand.

We will not get to heaven by being Christians in the sunlight. We will get to heaven by being Christians through the storm. In the parable that Jesus taught, both believers built a house. They both built a house in the sunlight. They were both Christians, but were both saved? Only the house that withstood the storm was saved. During the storm, Christianity is tested to show whether or not it is genuine.

Good Enough for Dad

Revelation 3:3, 4 says, “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” Just as those virgins in the parable. “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”

Another problem with many of the Reformers was that they somehow thought that whatever religion was good enough for their fathers was good enough for them. How many people today have I heard say, “Well, my parents kept Sunday. It was good enough for them; it is good enough for me.” The Bible tells us to repent. We are held accountable for more than for what our fathers were held accountable. They were held accountable for their lives, but if we go no farther than they, we are dead, though we may have a name that we are alive.

Verses 5 and 6 say, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Today, the torch has been passed to us. We are held accountable for more than any other generation of people. Dear friends, we are held accountable for more than were the Reformers in Martin Luther’s day. We are held accountable for more than were the Reformers in Wesley’s day. We are held accountable for more than were the Adventists 20 or 50 years ago. I want you to contemplate that the Adventists 50 years ago never finished the work. Today, God is calling for 144,000 people who come up to a higher plain than anyone has ever before come. If we live the way our fathers lived, they may be saved, but we are dead.

Remember This

In summary, let me share three things I would like you to remember. First, the church of Sardis teaches us that we must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Second, the church of Sardis teaches us that we must go beyond the faith of our fathers. Third, the church of Sardis teaches us that we must not just make a good beginning, but we must remain faithful unto the end, or our names will be blotted out of the Book of Life.

Your name and my name may have been written in the Book of Life at one time. The only way it can be written there is if you have been saved at some time. But the Bible says that although you have once been saved, although you have once accepted Jesus, although at one time you were converted, your name will be blotted out of the Book of Life unless you go on to higher ground. May that not happen to any of us. May we be clothed with the white raiment of Christ’s righteousness.

To be continued . . .

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.

The Patience of Christ

There are various reasons given for the apparent delay of the second return of Jesus.

Justifiably, most if not all reasons given may very well be correct. However, I would like to highlight one most important reason that could very well be the reason of all reasons why Jesus has not returned. So just to make us think a little I would ask, What is Jesus waiting for to return to this earth? Will He wait forever? Some Christians constantly say they need time to change or to give up sin. How does this attitude influence the return of Jesus or the individual’s salvation? This waiting attitude of Christ as a question forms the substance of this message!

In reference to Christianity in general and more specifically as a religion, Jesus Christ the founder has been looking for a revelation, a demonstration of something from its inception, and might I say for well over two thousand years. He has been waiting, expecting, anxiously looking for, but He has been grossly disappointed. What is He waiting and looking for with great longing?

The Nature of the Problem and the Problem

Jesus identifies the problem and spells out its nature in His address to the end time church—Laodicea. We read of this in the last book of the Holy Scriptures. “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:14–17.

He provides the solution as recorded: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:18–21.

The Laodicean message is for Seventh day Adventists—God’s servant in Manuscript 33, 1894, puts it this way, “The message to the Laodicean church is highly applicable to us as a people. It has been placed before us for a long time, but has not been heeded as it should have been. When the work of repentance is earnest and deep, the individual members of the church will buy the rich goods of heaven. Oh, how many behold things in a perverted light, in the light in which Satan would have them see.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 961.

“The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to our condition. How plainly is pictured the position of those who think they have all the truth, who take pride in their knowledge of the Word of God, while its sanctifying power has not been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of God is wanting in their hearts, but it is this very fervor of love that makes God’s people the light of the world.” Faith and Works, 82, 83.

The Problem

God’s end time church is seriously affected by self-deception and being self-conceited. We do not understand ourselves. The faithful and true witness states, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:15–17.

Like the Ephesian Christians, the Laodiceans have experienced a great loss tantamount to spiritual death. They lost their first love—the love of Jesus. Her problem is that she is devoid of the character of Jesus which can easily be identified when an individual possesses faith and love, the righteousness of Christ and the spirit to discern between right and wrong, good and evil.

Often times Christians are caught up with the externals, which often reflect significantly that they are destitute inwardly. We may note this important quotation, “You may manifest great zeal in missionary effort, and yet because it is corrupted with selfishness, and tastes strongly of self, it is nought in the sight of God; for it is a tainted, corrupted offering. Unless the door of the heart is open to Jesus, unless He occupies the soul temple, unless the heart is imbued with His divine attributes, human actions when weighed in the heavenly balances, will be pronounced ‘Wanting [Daniel 5.27].’ The love of Christ would make you rich; but many do not realize the value of His love. Many do not realize that the spirit which they cherish is destitute of the meekness and lowliness of Christ, destitute of the love that would constitute them channels of light.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 961.

The Solution

We read the priceless advice given to the Laodiceans, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:18.

Who is the faithful and true witness?

He is the vendor of priceless treasures. This thought is brought out clearly in the following statement: “The great Vendor of spiritual riches is inviting your recognition. The Saviour comes with jewels of truth of the richest value in distinction from all counterfeits, all that is spurious. He comes to every house, to every door; He is knocking, presenting His priceless treasure, urging, ‘Buy of me.’ ” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 964.

Jesus says, “Buy of me”—“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isaiah 55:1, 2.

What are the goods being sold?

Gold tried in the fire

White raiment

Eyesalve

What do these represent?

“Gold tried in the fire” represents love or faith that works by love which ultimately purifies the soul. This is the primary merchandise being offered to professing Christians!

“The gold tried in the fire is faith that works by love. Only this can bring us into harmony with God. We may be active, we may do much work; but without love, such love as dwelt in the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the family of heaven.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 158.

Spelled out even clearer, “The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich; for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 88.

Once again God’s messenger explains that this “gold tried in the fire,” is indeed the love of Jesus. The following is recorded, “The Lord knocks at the door of your heart, desiring to enter, that he may impart spiritual riches to your soul. He would anoint the blind eyes, that they may discover the holy character of God in his law, and understand the love of Christ, which is indeed gold tried in the fire.” The Review and Herald, February 25, 1890.

This gold tried in the fire has almost disappeared from the church of God. You see, this love is not superficial, spasmodic, earthly, or governed by circumstances. It is free from everything that savors of being human. It is pure and holy. It is of heavenly origin. It has diminished from the church because it cannot prosper where self reigns.

“Love of self excludes the love of Christ. Those who live for self are ranged under the head of the Laodicean church who are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. The ardor of the first love has lapsed into a selfish egotism. The love of Christ in the heart is expressed in the actions. If love for Christ is dull, the love for those for whom Christ has died will degenerate. There may be a wonderful appearance for zeal and ceremonies, but this is the substance of their self-inflated religion. Christ represents them as nauseating to His taste.” Our High Calling, 348.

Consequently, because self is so prominent in the church today, when trials come, which, in the providence of God, will come, many are affected and end up defecting.

Ellen White makes this very clear. She tells us, “I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and was shown that every trial made by the refining, purifying process upon professed Christians proves some to be dross. The fine gold does not always appear. In every religious crisis some fall under temptation. The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves. Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. As a class, their spirits are not steadfast with God. They go out from us because they are not of us; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, many are offended.

“Let these look back a few months to the time when they were sitting on the cases of others who were in a condition similar to that which they now occupy. Let them carefully call to mind the exercise of their minds in regard to those tempted ones. Had anyone told them then that notwithstanding their zeal and labor to set others right, they would at length be found in a similar position of darkness, they would have said, as did Hazael to the prophet: ‘Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?’ II Kings 8:13.

“Self-deception is upon them. During the calm, what firmness they manifest! what courageous sailors they make! But when the furious tempests of trial and temptation come, lo! their souls are shipwrecked. Men may have excellent gifts, good ability, splendid qualifications; but one defect, one secret sin indulged, will prove to the character what the worm-eaten plank does to the ship—utter disaster and ruin!” Testimonies, vol. 4, 89, 90.

This “gold tried in the fire” is what plants a person in Christ. As the apostle Paul puts it, “rooted and grounded in Him.” Ephesians 3:17. This love is the stabilizing element that keeps the Christian permanently connected to Jesus.

A question that really requires our prayerful attention is, “Why is it that many who profess to have faith in Christ have no strength to stand against the temptations of the enemy?—It is because they are not strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. The apostle prays ‘that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.’ Ephesians 3:17–19. If we had this experience, we should know something of the cross of Calvary. We would know what it means to be partakers with Christ in His sufferings. The love of Christ would constrain us, and though we would not be able to explain how the love of Christ warmed our hearts, we would manifest His love in fervent devotion to His cause.” Our High Calling, 365.

Faith and love enables us to do something very important. What is it?

“Buy faith and love, the precious, beautiful attributes of our Redeemer, which will enable us to find our way into the hearts of those who do not know Him, who are cold and alienated from Him through unbelief and sin.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 964. [Emphasis supplied.]

The power of Christ’s love is revealed: “The love that was in the heart of Christ is to be in our hearts, that we may reveal it to those around us. We need to be daily strengthened by the deep love of God, and to let this love shine forth to those around us.” The Upward Look, 159.

Therefore, when Laodicea’s condition is critically analyzed, the verdict is that the church is devoid of the love of God, thus the heavenly merchant man who has been waiting and longing has declared, “You are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and if you do not ‘buy of Me gold,’ I will spew you out of my mouth or I will reject you!” Revelation 3:15, 16.

The white raiment represents the righteousness of Jesus Christ. “Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. ‘I counsel thee,’ He says, ‘to buy of Me … white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.’ Revelation 3:18.

“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. ‘All our righteousness are as filthy rags.’ Isaiah 64:6.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311.

What does it mean to be clothed with Christ’s robe of righteousness?

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.” Ibid., 312.

How do we receive Christ’s righteousness?

“By receiving His imputed righteousness, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we become like Him. The image of Christ is cherished, and it captivates the whole being.” God’s Amazing Grace, 96.

It is evident that self must be surrendered to Christ, and the Holy Spirit be allowed to do the work of cleansing so that which is the soul’s need may be met.

What does the righteousness of Christ consist of?

“Righteousness of Christ imputed to men means holiness, uprightness, purity. Unless Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us we could not have acceptable repentance. The righteousness dwelling in us by faith consists of love, forbearance, meekness, and all the Christian virtues. Here the righteousness of Christ is laid hold of and becomes a part of our being. All who have this righteousness will work the works of God.” Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, 134.

“The righteousness of Christ consists in right actions and good works from pure, unselfish motives. Outside righteousness, while the inward adorning is wanting, will be of no avail.” This Day With God, 182.

We can conclude on this point by agreeing that “the white raiment is purity of character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner. This is indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ for a life of willing obedience.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 88.

“The eyesalve [represents, or] is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any guise. God has given His church eyes which He requires them to anoint with wisdom, that they may see clearly; but many would put out the eyes of the church if they could; for they would not have their deeds come to the light, lest they should be reproved. The divine eyesalve will impart clearness to the understanding.” Ibid., 88, 89.

I must make this point clear to our understanding that according to the Faithful and True witness—Jesus Christ—the Laodicean Christians are not totally blind. “The Laodiceans,” Ellen White states, “were not entirely blind, else the eyesalve would have done nothing to restore their sight, and enable them to discern the true attributes of Christ. Says Christ, By renouncing your own self-sufficiency, giving up all things, however dear to you, you may buy the gold, the raiment, and the eyesalve that you may see.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 965.

Why anoint the eyes? “He would anoint the blind eyes, that they may discover the holy character of God in His law, and understand the love of Christ, which is indeed gold tried in the fire.” Ibid., 965.

This is important because while we are blessed with 20/20 vision to see about our self-interest and to glorify self, at the same time we are blind to see Christ and His wonderful love which we so desperately need. Because we are so focused on self we are totally destitute of the love of Jesus; therefore, when our love for God and our fellowman is tested, we utterly fail. We give up on Christ and we abandon our fellow human beings.

What we need to understand is that the more we promote self, the more we fail to realize how wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked and lukewarm we are.

But, let us not forget or be confused that there is love in the church, but Christ, the owner of the church still says to us, “Buy of me gold tried in the fire.” This conveys the fact that what the church calls love is not the genuine love. Jesus’ love holds up under all circumstances; it remains unchanged no matter how severely tried or unkindly treated! This is the gold tried in the fire.

The current love present in the church, which makes God nauseated, is a love that is destructive, which cultivates evil and only more evil, and which originates in the synagogue of Satan; it’s a love that cherishes hate, resentment, pride, jealousy, fault-finding, gossiping, envy, evil-surmising, strife, bitterness, an unforgiving spirit, deception, hypocrisy, unbelief and all manner of unchristlike attitudes and behavior! It’s a love that is pretentious. So Christ once again says, buy of me gold tried in the fire. Buy the genuine article, for this is the only one that will endure when all else fails. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” I Corinthians 13:13.

Ellen White reminds us, “It is difficult for us to understand ourselves, to have a correct knowledge of our own characters. The word of God is plain, but often there is an error in applying it to one’s self. There is liability to self-deception and to think its warnings and reproofs do not mean me. ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?’ Jeremiah 17:9. Self-flattery may be construed into Christian emotion and zeal. Self-love and confidence may give us assurance that we are right when we are far from meeting the requirements of God’s word.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 332.

So, having said all this, I would like to go back to my original question and provide the answer. What is it that Christ is waiting for and longing for before He returns to this earth? We read in the Gospel of Mark, “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Mark 4:29.

What fruit is Christ here referring to? The apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatian Christians identifies this fruit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” “This fruit can never perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 68, 69.

“Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.

“It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:12, margin). Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel.” Ibid.

Satan knows this; consequently, this is what he has been doing: “The enemy well knows that if we do not have love one for another, he can gain his object, and wound and weaken the church, by causing differences among brethren. He can lead them to surmise evil, to speak evil, to accuse, condemn, and hate one another. In this way the cause of God is brought into dishonor, the name of Christ is reproached, and untold harm is done to the souls of men.” This Day with God, 165.

So Jesus has been waiting, longing to see His love manifested in the lives of all His followers, and this in turn would hasten His coming. Will He wait forever? No!

In closing I leave these words with you: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” I John 3:1–3.

Jesus pleads to you and me, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. Will you open to the heavenly merchant man? “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:15, 16.

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-822-3900.

Bible Study Guides – Whose Garment are you Wearing?

February 28, 2010 – March 6, 2010

Key Text

“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 23.

Study Help: Sons and Daughters of God, 100; “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

Introduction

“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,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

1 Is it possible to “clothe” ourselves with our own anger, cursing or foul language? Is that the garment you would like to wear? Psalm 109:18, 19.

Note. “If our lips have need of cleansing, if we realize our destitution, and come to God in contrition of heart, the Lord will remove the uncleanness. He will say to his angel, ‘Take away the filthy garments,’ and clothe him with ‘change of raiment’ [Zechariah 3:4].” The Review and Herald, December 22, 1896.

“If in word and spirit you represent the character of Christ, then you are Christians; for to be a Christian is to be Christ-like. The tongue will testify of the principles that characterize the life; it is the sure test of what power controls the heart. We may judge our own spirit and principles by the words that proceed from our lips. The tongue is always to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.” The Review and Herald, May 26, 1896.

2 Where does this anger and foul language begin? Matthew 12:34–36.

Note. “Then let them not be used in bringing from the treasure of the heart words that will dishonor God and discourage those around you, but use them for the praise and glory of God, who has formed them for this purpose. When the cleansing coal is applied from the glowing altar, the conscience will be purged from dead works to serve the living God; and when the love of Jesus is the theme of contemplation, the words coming from human lips will be full of praise and thanksgiving to God and to the Lamb.” The Review and Herald, December 22, 1896.

3 When there is an evil treasure in our hearts that brings forth evil, what do we need and where do we find it? Ezekiel 36:26, 27.

Note. “When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the sign of a new heart—a changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride.

“Then a spirit of kindness will be manifested, not by fits and starts, but continually. There will be a decided change in attitude, in deportment, in words and actions toward all with whom you are in any way connected. You will not magnify their infirmities, you will not place them in an unfavorable light. You will work in Christ’s lines.” Sons and Daughters of God, 100.

4 The enemy wants to clothe us with his garments of character. What other garment descriptions are we warned about? Psalm 73:6–9.

Note. “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,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1178.

5 Knowing that the enemy’s garments are garments of death, full of leprosy, which garment would you like to be clothed with? Isaiah 61:10.

Note. “Every true turning to the Lord brings abiding joy into the life. When a sinner yields to the influence of the Holy Spirit, he sees his own guilt and defilement in contrast with the holiness of the great Searcher of hearts. He sees himself condemned as a transgressor. But he is not, because of this, to give way to despair; for his pardon has already been secured. He may rejoice in the sense of sins forgiven, in the love of a pardoning heavenly Father. It is God’s glory to encircle sinful, repentant human beings in the arms of His love, to bind up their wounds, to cleanse them from sin, and to clothe them with the garments of salvation.” Prophets and Kings, 668.

6 With what will the Lord replace the spirit of heaviness? Isaiah 61:3.

Note. “There is nothing in us from which we can clothe the soul so that its nakedness shall not appear. We are to receive the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven, even the spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 965.

7 Since our filthy garments will not be taken from us, what are we told to do? Philippians 2:12, last part.

Note. “The work of overcoming is a great work. Shall we take hold of it with energy and perseverance? Unless we do, our ‘filthy garments’ will not be taken from us. We need never expect that these will be torn from us violently; we must first show a desire to rid ourselves of them. We must seek to separate sin from us, relying upon the merits of the blood of Christ; and then in the day of affliction, when the enemy presses us, we shall walk among the angels. They will be like a wall of fire about us; and we shall one day walk with them in the city of God.” The Review and Herald, November 19, 1908.

8 If we do not want to be found naked, what are we to do? Revelation 16:15.

Note. “Trial is part of the education given in the school of Christ, to purify God’s children from the dross of earthliness. It is because God is leading His children that trying experiences come to them. Trials and obstacles are His chosen methods of discipline, and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their weaknesses better than they themselves can know them. He sees that some have qualifications which, if rightly directed, could be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these souls into different positions and varied circumstances, that they may discover the defects that are concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to overcome these defects and to fit themselves for service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to burn, that they may be purified.

“God’s care for His heritage is unceasing. He suffers no affliction to come upon His children but such as is essential for their present and eternal good. He will purify His church, even as Christ purified the temple during His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon His people in test and trial comes that they may gain deeper piety and greater strength to carry forward the triumphs of the cross.” The Acts of the Apostles, 524, 525.

9 To all that overcome and have not defiled their garments, what is promised? Revelation 3:4.

Note. “It is right to love beauty and to desire it; but God desires us to love and seek first the highest beauty, that which is imperishable. No outward adorning can compare in value or loveliness with that ‘meek and quiet spirit’ [I Peter 3:4], the ‘fine linen, white and clean’ (Revelation 19:14), which all the holy ones of earth will wear. This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here, and will hereafter be their badge of admission to the palace of the King. His promise is, ‘They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.’ Revelation 3:4.” The Acts of the Apostles, 523, 524.

10 Read Zechariah 3:2–7. Tell in your own words what these verses mean to you and which garment you prefer.

Note. “Satan seeks to bring us into temptation, that the evil of our characters may be revealed before men and angels, that he may claim us as his own. In the symbolic prophecy of Zechariah, Satan is seen standing at the right hand of the Angel of the Lord, accusing Joshua, the high priest, who is clothed in filthy garments, and resisting the work that the Angel desires to do for him. This represents the attitude of Satan toward every soul whom Christ is seeking to draw unto Himself. The enemy leads us into sin, and then he accuses us before the heavenly universe as unworthy of the love of God. But ‘the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ And unto Joshua He said, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ Zechariah 3:1–4.

“God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience and advances us in the work of character building. The soul that through divine power resists temptation reveals to the world and to the heavenly universe the efficiency of the grace of Christ.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 116, 117.

Additional Reading

“Pride and weakness of faith are depriving many of the rich blessings of God. There are many who, unless they humble their hearts before the Lord, will be surprised and disappointed when the cry is heard: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.’ Matthew 25:6. They have the theory of the truth, but they have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. Our faith at this time must not stop with an assent to, or belief in, the theory of the third angel’s message. We must have the oil of the grace of Christ that will feed the lamp and cause the light of life to shine forth, showing the way to those who are in darkness.

“If we would escape having a sickly experience, we must begin in earnest without delay to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. There are many who give no decided evidence that they are true to their baptismal vows. Their zeal is chilled by formality, worldly ambition, pride, and love of self. Occasionally their feelings are stirred, but they do not fall on the Rock, Christ Jesus. They do not come to God with hearts that are broken in repentance and confession. Those who experience the work of true conversion in their hearts will reveal the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. Oh, that those who have so little spiritual life would realize that eternal life can be granted only to those who become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust!

“The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven. ‘Except a man be born again,’ the Saviour has said, ‘he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 155, 156.

Lesson Studies were prepared by Judy Hallingstad of the LandMarks staff. She can be contacted at judyhallingstad@stepstolife.org .

Bible Study Guides – The Chosen and the Elect of God

June 13, 2010 – June 19, 2010

Key text

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

Study Help: Christ’s Object Lessons, 311–319.

Introduction

“Truth, precious truth, is sanctifying in its influence. The sanctification of the soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity. It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ revealed in character, and the grace of Christ brought into active exercise in good works. Thus the character is transformed more and more perfectly after the image of Christ in righteousness and true holiness. There are broad requirements in divine truth stretching out into one line after another of good works. The truths of the gospel are not unconnected; uniting they form one string of heavenly jewels, as in the personal work of Christ, and like threads of gold they run through the whole of Christian work and experience.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 198.

1 How is the Christian experience obtained? Isaiah 45:22; Matthew 11:28.

Note: “Thus it is with the Christian in his life. He catches the bright beams of light from Christ, and by trusting in him he becomes better acquainted with his Saviour. It is a difficult matter for human nature to have perfect confidence in divine power, but the Lord will strengthen our faith, and we may have a precious experience in the knowledge of Jesus. We do not have the simplicity we should have in coming to our heavenly Father. We are sinners, but Christ has died for us, and it is our privilege to place ourselves upon the platform of his promises. If we have the love of Jesus in our hearts, we shall express it in our actions toward others. We shall proclaim to those who are out of Christ the beauty of faith and religion. It is not our place to inquire whether we shall have trials if we walk in the path of obedience; we are to search for the truth as for hidden treasures, and to accept it whatever may be its cost.” The Signs of the Times, March 17, 1890.

2 Once you have started the Christian walk, what is necessary? Matthew 16:24.

Note: “Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, ‘Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee.’ This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.” Steps to Christ, 70.

3 How often do we need to be converted? Luke 9:23; I Corinthians 15:31.

Note: “The Christian life is constantly an onward march. Jesus sits as a refiner and purifier of His people; and when His image is perfectly reflected in them, they are perfect and holy, and prepared for translation. A great work is required of the Christian. We are exhorted to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Here we see where the great labor rests. There is a constant work for the Christian.

“None are living Christians unless they have a daily experience in the things of God and daily practice self-denial, cheerfully bearing the cross and following Christ. Every living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality.” God’s Amazing Grace, 291.

4 What qualification is necessary in order to be accepted of God? Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 18:4; James 4:6, 10.

Note: “We should cherish gratitude of heart all the days of our life because the Lord has put on record these words: ‘For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones’ [Isaiah 57:15]. The reconciliation of God to man, and man to God, is sure when certain conditions are met. The Lord says, ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise’ [Psalm 51:17]. Again He says, ‘The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit’ [Psalm 34:18]. ‘Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off’ [Psalm 138:6].” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 370, 371.

5 What activity is required of the Christian? John 20:21; Mark 16:15; Matthew 5:16.

Note: “God has given us the gift of speech that we may recite to others the dealing of God with us, that his love and compassion may touch their hearts, and that praise may also arise from their souls to him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light. The Lord has said, ‘Ye are my witnesses’ [Isaiah 43:10]. But all who are called to be witnesses for Christ must learn of him, that they maybe efficient witnesses. As children of the heavenly King, you should educate yourselves to bear testimony in a clear, distinct voice, and in such a manner that no one may have the impression that you are reluctant to speak of the mercies of the Lord. In social meeting, prayer should be offered so that all may be edified, and those who take part in this exercise should follow the example given us in the Lord’s beautiful prayer for the world. The prayer of Jesus is simple, clear, comprehensive, and yet not long and spiritless as are the dry prayers that are often offered in public. These spiritless prayers better not be uttered; for they fail to bless or edify, and are a mere form without vital power.” Christian Education, 129.

6 What prominent characteristic will the Christian have? Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 17:20; Hebrews 11:6.

Note: “In this world there is neither comfort nor happiness without Jesus. Let us acknowledge Him as our Friend and Saviour. … In Him are matchless charms. O may we all so live during this brief period of probationary time that we shall reign with Him throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity! If Christ abides in the heart by faith … you will be happy, full of praise and joy.” My Life Today, 157, 158.

7 How may we reach the goal of being sanctified in Christ? 11 Peter 1:5–8; Philippians 4:8.

Note: “These words are full of instruction, and strike the keynote of victory. The apostle presents before the believers the ladder of Christian progress, every step of which represents advancement in the knowledge of God, and in the climbing of which there is to be no standstill. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are the rounds of the ladder. We are saved by climbing round after round, mounting step after step, to the height of Christ’s ideal for us. Thus He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” The Acts of the Apostles, 530.

8 What garment must the Christian acquire? Matthew 22:11, 12; Revelation 7:9, 14.

Note: “By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. To the church it is given ‘that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,’ ‘not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, ‘is the righteousness of saints.’ Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310.

9 To what is our own righteousness compared? Isaiah 64:6. How did Jesus refer to man’s goodness? Matthew 19:17. What did the psalmist say? Psalm 14:3. What did Paul say? Romans 3:12.

Note: “We cannot provide a robe of righteousness for ourselves, for the prophet says, ‘All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags’ (Isaiah 64:6). There is nothing in us from which we can clothe the soul so that its nakedness shall not appear. We are to receive the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven, even the spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness.

“God has made ample provision that we may stand perfect in His grace, wanting in nothing, waiting for the appearing of our Lord. Are you ready? Have you the wedding garment on? That garment will never cover deceit, impurity, corruption, or hypocrisy. The eye of God is upon you. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We may conceal our sins from the eyes of men, but we can hide nothing from our Maker.” God’s Amazing Grace, 24.

10 Whose righteousness do we need? Philippians 3:9; Romans 1:17.

Note: “And what is it to believe? It is to fully accept that Jesus Christ died as our sacrifice; that He became the curse for us, took our sins upon Himself, and imputed unto us His own righteousness. Therefore we claim this righteousness of Christ, we believe it, and it is our righteousness. He is our Saviour. He saves us because He said He would. Are we going to go into all the explanations as to how He can save us? Do we have the goodness in ourselves that will make us better and cleanse us from the spots and stains of sin, enabling us then to come to God? We simply cannot do it.” Faith and Works, 70.

11 How long must the righteous be faithful? Matthew 24:13.

Note: “Heaven will be cheap enough, if we obtain it through suffering. We must deny self all along the way, die to self daily, let Jesus alone appear, and keep His glory continually in view.

“The work of salvation is not child’s play, to be taken hold of at will and let alone at pleasure. It is the steady purpose, the untiring effort, that will gain the victory at last. It is he who endureth to the end that shall be saved. It is they who patiently continue in well-doing that shall have eternal life and the immortal reward.” The Faith I Live By, 359.

Additional Reading

“Religion is not merely an emotion, a feeling. It is a principle which is interwoven with all the daily duties and transactions of life. … It is continuance in well-doing that will form characters for heaven.

“We must live for Christ minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day; then Christ will dwell in us, and when we meet together, His love will be in our hearts, welling up like a spring in the desert, refreshing all, and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink of the waters of life.” God’s Amazing Grace, 291.

“What an honor He confers upon us, in urging us to be holy in our sphere, as the Father is holy in His sphere. And through His power we are able to do this; for He declares, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’ (Matthew 28:18). This unlimited power it is your privilege and mine to claim.” Ibid., 268.

This quarter’s lessons were prepared by Ruth Grosboll prior to her passing in January, 2010.