Chapter 60—Relation of Faith and Works
[
Appeared in Notebook Leaflets, The Church, No. 5.
]
Napier, New Zealand
April 9, 1893
Brother A. T. Jones,
I was attending a meeting, and a large congregation were present.
In my dream you were presenting the subject of faith and the imputed
righteousness of Christ by faith. You repeated several times that works
amounted to nothing, that there were no conditions. The matter was
presented in that light that I knew minds would be confused, and would
not receive the correct impression in reference to faith and works, and
I decided to write to you. You state this matter too strongly. There
are conditions to our receiving justification and sanctification, and the
righteousness of Christ. I know your meaning, but you leave a wrong
impression upon many minds. While good works will not save even
one soul, yet it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without
good works. God saves us under a law, that we must ask if we would
receive, seek if we would find, and knock if we would have the door
opened unto us.
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Christ offers Himself as willing to save unto the uttermost all who
come unto Him. He invites all to come to Him. “Him that cometh
to me I will in no wise cast out” (
John 6:37
). You look in reality
upon these subjects as I do, yet you make these subjects, through your
expressions, confusing to minds. And after you have expressed your
mind radically in regard to works, when questions are asked you upon
this very subject, it is not lying out in so very clear lines, in your own
mind, and you cannot define the correct principles to other minds, and
you are yourself unable to make your statements harmonize with your
own principles and faith.
The young man came to Jesus with the question, “Good Master,
what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life?” (
Mark 10:17
). And
Christ saith unto him, “Why callest thou me good? there is none
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