Chapter 57—Christ the Way of Life
[
This article appeared in
The Review and Herald, November 4, 1890
.]
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of
God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (
Mark 1:14, 15
).
Repentance is associated with faith, and is urged in the gospel
as essential to salvation. Paul preached repentance. He said, “I kept
back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and
have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both
to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (
Acts 20:20, 21
). There is no salvation
without repentance. No impenitent sinner can believe with his heart
unto righteousness. Repentance is described by Paul as a godly sorrow
for sin, that “worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of” (
2
Corinthians 7:10
). This repentance has in it nothing of the nature of
merit, but it prepares the heart for the acceptance of Christ as the only
Saviour, the only hope of the lost sinner.
As the sinner looks to the law, his guilt is made plain to him,
and pressed home to his conscience, and he is condemned. His only
comfort and hope is found in looking to the cross of Calvary. As he
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ventures upon the promises, taking God at His word, relief and peace
come to his soul. He cries, “Lord, Thou hast promised to save all
who come unto Thee in the name of Thy Son. I am a lost, helpless,
hopeless soul. Lord, save, or I perish.” His faith lays hold on Christ,
and he is justified before God.
But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through
the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments
of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting
known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before
justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification,
there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that
works by love and purifies the soul.
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