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Look, Believe, and Live, August 11
[We] are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:5
.
Those who depend upon their own righteousness instead of relying upon the
righteousness of Christ will lose the prize; they will be weighed in the balances of
the sanctuary and found wanting. Let everyone who is striving for the precious boon
of eternal life distrust his own strength, and, in much prayer, cast his helpless soul
upon Christ. There is too little searching of the Word of God for definite direction
in the way of life. The larger number of those who profess to believe on Christ
have only superficial ideas as to what constitutes Christian character.... Do not
deceive yourself with the idea that your own inherent righteousness will bring you
into harmony with God. Do not fail to look upon yourself as a sinner in the sight
of God. Do not fail to look upon Jesus lifted up upon the cross; and as you look,
believe and live; for by faith in the atoning sacrifice you may be justified through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Believe that you are forgiven, that you are
justified, not in transgression and disobedience, but in submission to the will of God.
If through faith you lay hold of the righteousness of Christ, then be not careless of
your thoughts, your words, your works. Study much, and pray that as Christ has
shown you the way, He may by His grace keep you in the way. For we are “kept by
the power of God through faith”; and even faith is not of ourselves, but it also is the
gift of God.
In order to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, it is essential that you
meditate much upon the great themes of redemption. You should ask yourself why
Christ has taken humanity upon Himself, why He suffered upon the cross, why He
bore the sins of men, why He was made sin and righteousness for us. You should
study to know why He ascended to heaven in the nature of man, and what is His
work for us today....
If thoughts of Christ, His work and character, are cherished, you will be led
to sink deep the shaft of truth, and you will be enabled to come into possession
of precious jewels of truth. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ,
through communion with God, sin will become hateful to you. As you meditate
upon heavenly things, and walk with God, as did Enoch, you will lay aside every
weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset, and will run with patience the race set
before you.... Our building must be founded upon the Rock Christ Jesus or it will
not stand the test of the tempest (
The Signs of the Times, December 1, 1890
).
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