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Faithful, Earnest Warnings
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The Message of Justification by Faith
The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to
His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. [
See appendix.
] This message was to bring more prominently before the world
the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the
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people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest
in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight
of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine
person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family.
All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts
unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to
the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded
to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to
be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring
of His Spirit in a large measure.
The uplifted Saviour is to appear in His efficacious work as
the Lamb slain, sitting upon the throne, to dispense the priceless
covenant blessings, the benefits He died to purchase for every soul
who should believe on Him. John could not express that love in
words; it was too deep, too broad; he calls upon the human family
to behold it. Christ is pleading for the church in the heavenly courts
above, pleading for those for whom He paid the redemption price of
His own lifeblood. Centuries, ages, can never diminish the efficacy
of this atoning sacrifice. The message of the gospel of His grace was
to be given to the church in clear and distinct lines, that the world
should no longer say that Seventh-day Adventists talk the law, the
law, but do not teach or believe Christ.
The efficacy of the blood of Christ was to be presented to the
people with freshness and power, that their faith might lay hold upon
its merits. As the high priest sprinkled the warm blood upon the
mercy seat, while the fragrant cloud of incense ascended before
God, so while we confess our sins and plead the efficacy of Christ’s
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atoning blood, our prayers are to ascend to heaven, fragrant with the
merits of our Saviour’s character. Notwithstanding our unworthiness,
we are ever to bear in mind that there is One that can take away sin
and save the sinner. Every sin acknowledged before God with a