Righteousness By Faith
The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not
because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, is a
precious thought. The enemy of God and man is not willing that
this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people
receive it fully, his power will be broken. If he can control minds so
that doubt and unbelief and darkness shall compose the experience
of those who claim to be the children of God, he can overcome them
with temptation.
That simple faith which takes God at His word should be encour-
aged. God’s people must have that faith which will lay hold of divine
power; “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of your-
selves: it is the gift of God.” [
Ephesians 2:8
.] Those who believe
that God for Christ’s sake has forgiven their sins, should not, through
temptation, fail to press on to fight the good fight of faith. Their faith
should grow stronger until their Christian life, as well as their words,
shall declare, “The blood of Jesus Christ ...cleanseth us from all sin.”
[
1 John 1:7
.]
If we would have the spirit and power of the third angel’s message,
we must present the law and the gospel together, for they go hand in
hand. As a power from beneath is stirring up the children of disobedi-
ence to make void the law of God, and to trample upon the truth that
Christ is our righteousness, a power from above is moving upon the
hearts of those who are loyal, to exalt the law, and to lift up Jesus as a
complete Saviour. Unless divine power is brought into the experience
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of the people of God, false theories and ideas will take minds captive,
Christ and His righteousness will be dropped out of the experience of
many, and their faith will be without power or life.
Ministers are to present Christ in His fulness both in the churches
and in new fields, that the hearers may have an intelligent faith. The
people must be instructed that Christ is unto them salvation and righ-
teousness. It is Satan’s studied purpose to keep souls from believing
in Christ as their only hope; for the blood of Christ that cleanseth from
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