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“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new
It is said that, “True reformation begins with soul cleansing. Our work for the fallen will achieve real success only as the grace of Christ reshapes the character and the soul is brought into living connection with God. Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God's law, and in this He set an example for every human being. The life that He lived in this world we are to live through His power and under His instruction. In our work for the fallen the claims of the law of God and the need of loyalty to Him are to be impressed on mind and heart. Never fail to show that there is a marked difference between the one who serves God and the one who serves Him not. God is love, but He cannot excuse willful disregard for His commands. The enactments of His government are such that men do not escape the consequences of disloyalty. Only those who honor Him can He honor. Man's conduct in this world decides his eternal destiny. As he has sown, so he must reap. Cause will be followed by effect.
“Nothing less than perfect obedience can meet the standard of God's requirement. He has not left His requirements indefinite. He has enjoined nothing that is not necessary in order to bring man into harmony with Him. We are to point sinners to His ideal of character and to lead them to Christ, by whose grace only can this ideal be reached. The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us "partakers of the divine nature," and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.” (The Ministry of Healing, Page 180)
Notice that true reform begins with the cleansing of our souls. And in order for there to be real success, the grace of Christ must reshape our characters and our souls, to be brought into a living connection with GOD. As The Man Christ Jesus lived His life among men, to be a Perfect Example for all to follow His set Pattern, as The Standard of GOD’S Character of The Law of Love being expressed in His life among men, He proved that we can live a perfect obedient life to GOD’S Law just as He did. It is by His Pattern, His Standard, which is applied to our life that reshapes the characters of our souls, that we might be brought into a living connection with GOD. But the success of having a living connection with GOD cannot be achieved unless The Power of Christ Divine nature can be combined with our weak human nature.
Not matter what the sin may be in our lives, or what we have struggled to overcome in the past, we must partake of His Divine nature in order to have true success, to live according to His set Standard. We may pray day and night for reform to take place in our lives, and as we know all to well, that we of ourselves have not The Power to overcome any sin that keeps us separated from GOD. We must look to The Pattern--The Standard, or The One Who has The Nature of GOD’S Law written within His Heart, to abide and live out His Standard of Life in us.
It is written that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:9, 10). Notice The Promise given to us in GOD’S Word. He will be faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, if we will confess our sins to Him. But in order to be cleansed from all of our unrighteousness, we need to know what is our sin. However, if The Pattern, The Standard, or The Law of GOD’S Covenant Word is done away, or crucified to death, and has not been resurrected to life, to live a new life in us, then we have no power to overcome the sin that leads to death. But if Christ Jesus—The Word of God Lives His Life in us, then He gives His Divine Power, to overcome all unrighteousness in us.
David was led to testify of The Word of The LORD, when he said, “The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether. More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward. Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults]” (Psalms 19:7-12).
Notice that The Law, The Testimony, The Statutes, The Commandments, The Fear and The Judgments are all of The Word of The LORD. He--The Word of GOD is Perfect, to convert our souls. He is The Sure Word, Who is made clear unto our minds, to leave us no room for doubts, that we might be wise in righteousness, to bring rejoicing unto our hearts. He is the means by which we are cleansed and are made pure, because He enlightens our eyes by His Instructions, to revere The LORD, to be clean, and to endure forever; for He is The Treasure that is worth more than gold. His Instructions warns us and by keeping Him—The Covenant of GOD, as The Way The Truth and The Life, we receive to ourselves Great Reward. But what if men are led to loose, and discard The Instructions that GOD has given to us by HIS Word, to warns us, to prevent us from loosing our connection with HIM? Would not the church follow in the footsteps of Eve, who was led to reject The Counsel of GOD by HIS Word?
It is said in our current church manual that, “The early church bore responsibility for purity in doctrine and practice. (Acts 20:17-28; Heb. 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-3), with special tasks such as giving instruction in sound doctrine and refuting those who contradicted it (1 Tim. 3:1, 2; Titus 1:5, 9). They were instructed to “test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1) or, in Paul’s terms, to “test all things” and “hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). (2010 Church Manual, Page 30, 31) Notice that the church, which is said to be the bride of Christ, she like Eve was pure and one with her husband Adam, before she was led by the deception of the adversary to reject The Counsel of GOD’S Word, to be led into darkness and death.
Paul declared to the elders that he did not shun away from declaring to them all The Counsels of GOD. He counseled and said to them, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-30).
Notice that the elders, who were under-shepherds in the church bore the responsibility for purity in doctrine and practice, to not only oversee, or manage the flock of the members of Christ body, by feeding, and instructing the members of the church of GOD, which Christ Jesus has purchased with His Own Blood, but they were to also take heed unto themselves, because grievous wolves would enter in among them, and by not sparing the flock, they would speak perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. In other words, as the adversary deceived Eve to lead her into darkness and death by her rejection of The Counsel of GOD’S Word through her husband Adam, many in the church are today following wrong counsel to reject The Truth GOD has reveal to us by HIS Word.
It is presented in the church manual that the elders were to test the spirits, whether they are of God, and refute those who contradict sound doctrine. This view is presented as coming only from the elders, who were to test and manage and oversee the flock of the church. But what about the sheep, or the members, who were to recognized and test the elders, who were leading them to depart from The Standard of The Master Shepherd?
It is written that, "...the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (2 Timothy 4:3). "Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen, restlessly waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are watching and waiting and working for our Lord's appearing; while the other party are rapidly falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. They look for a god in humanity, and Satan personifies the one they seek. Multitudes will be so deluded through their rejection of truth, that they will accept the counterfeit. Humanity is hailed as God.
Satan is ever on the alert to deceive and mislead. He is using every enchantment to allure men into the broad road of disobedience. He is working to confuse the senses with erroneous sentiments, and remove the landmarks by placing his false inscription on the signposts which God has established to point the right way. Teachers of falsehood will arise to draw you away from the narrow path and the strait gate. Beware of them; though concealed in sheep's clothing, inwardly they are ravening wolves. . . . We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the Word of God. . . . "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Prov. 19:27. What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments?
These false teachers, arising in the church and accounted true by many of their brethren in the faith, the apostle compared to "wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever." 2 Peter 2:17. Are our feet planted on the rock of God's immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? (The Faith I Live By, Page 323)
Notices that today there are many churches, or religious groups that are being led to follow one destination, or the other. Like Moses, who was a visible leader over the flock that was placed under his care, to bring them unto The Master Shepherd, the sheep did not comprehend The Invisible Shepherd, Who led him and them into the wilderness to build their faith and trust in Him. Many of the leaders over the flock that have been given into their care are today leading their flocks to follow not in alignment with The Standards GOD has given by HIS Word. Many of our brothers and sisters are being driven, to walk contrary to The Standards found in GOD’S Word. And they and their flock are falling in line under the generalship of the first great apostate, who is the adversary—the devil. They are being led to follow him, because both the leaders and their flocks know not The Master Shepherd, Who leads His flock by The Voice of HIS Word. They are to lead by example by their faith, rather than departing from The Faith, Which was once delivered to the saints.
As a disciple and follower of Christ Jesus, John wrote of Him and said, “…Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. I and [my] Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” (John 10:23-32)
Notice that the Jews were in doubt as to The Identity of Christ Jesus, even though The Truth had been revealed and was made known unto them. Jesus pointed them to the evidence that proved His identity, yet they were driven like sheep to discard what evidence they did receive. As sheep, Jesus said to them that His sheep hear His Voice and do follow Him, because His Father has given to them HIS Word. Even though Jesus took the form of man, and became one among men, those, who sought to stone Him, they received Him not, because GOD’S Word did not fit with their understanding. They were being led by the adversary to pick up stones, to stone Him, Who came, to lead men from the bondage of darkness and death into His marvelous light and life.
Like Moses, who was a servant in the house of The LORD God, Christ Jesus, Who was over His Own house, which is His dwelling, He was also a Son in that house, to be The Standard and The Example for all, who would follow Him. There was not a created spirit, who occupied His dwelling. For it was The LORD, WHO possessed Him in the beginning of HIS Way, before HIS works of old. It is HE--The Father, WHO was in Him--The Word, Who dwelt also in the flesh, as one among men. He came among men to make us one with Him and with The Father, WHO was with Him.
"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13). "The Lord is a God of knowledge. In His Word, He is represented as weighing men, their development of character, and all their motives, whether they be good or evil. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, the child granted her by God in answer to her earnest entreaty, said, "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed" (1 Sam. 2:3). David declared, "Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity" (Ps. 62:9). Isaiah says, "Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just" (Isa. 26:7). Solomon writes, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits" (Prov. 16:2). It is for the eternal interest of everyone to search his own heart and to improve every God-given faculty.
"There are many important lessons for each to learn. Let all remember that there is not a motive in the heart of any man that the Lord does not clearly see. The motives of each one are weighed as carefully as if the destiny of the human agent depended upon this one result. We need a connection with divine power, that we may have an increase of clear light and an understanding of how to reason from cause to effect. We need to have the powers of the understanding cultivated, by our being partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Let us each one consider carefully the solemn truth: God in heaven is true, and there is not a design however intricate, not a motive however carefully hidden, that He does not clearly understand. He reads the secret devising of every heart. Man may plan out crooked actions for the future, thinking that God does not understand, but in that great day when the books are opened, and every man is judged by the things written in the books, those actions will appear as they are . . . .
"There is no one, however earnestly he may be striving to do his best, who can say, "I have no sin." He who would say this would be under a dangerous deception. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). How then can we escape the charge, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting"? We are to look to Christ. At infinite cost, He has covenanted to be our representative in the heavenly courts, our Advocate before God.--Manuscript 23, Feb. 8, 1906, "A God of Knowledge by Whom Actions Are Weighed." (The Upward Look, Page 53)
Notice that The Divine Help that we need and have is The Friend, Who is The Covenant Word of GOD, Who has covenanted to be our representative in the heavenly courts above. He is our Advocate before God, The One Mediator between GOD and man. He said in His prayer to The Father, saying, “…the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:22-26).
Now, just as Christ Jesus has given to us His glory, that we might be one with Him, we are to represent His glory to others that they might be drawn to Christ Jesus, by His Own Spirit that He has given to us, that The Glory of The Father, which was given to Him might be also in us, to be one with Him and The Father. As Christ Jesus gave thanks to The Father by declaring HIS Name to those, who have received Him, we are to give thanks to The Father for giving to us HIS Word--HIS Son that we might be one with HIM through HIS Word.
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving" (Psalms 69:30). "The voice is a wonderful organ. It is a wonderful blessing, and let us use it wholly on Christ's side, and not praise the devil by complaining of the hardness of the way to heaven. Suppose we give to the world a living example of the beauty there is in religion and Jesus Christ by the offerings we present to God, talking of His goodness, and telling of His power. If you feel disposed to murmur, let it die before you give it breath, and let your voice and tongue be educated, and then when you open your eyes in the morning the very first thing will be, "I thank the Lord; He has kept me through the night. I thank Thee, Jesus Christ, for the peace that is in my heart," and morning, noon, and night you have a gratitude offering. It comes up before God as sweet perfume.
"And Jesus said He would give us the Comforter. What is the Comforter? It is the Holy Spirit of God. What is the Holy Spirit? It is the representative of Jesus Christ, it is our Advocate that stands by our side and places our petitions before the Father all fragrant with His merits. There He accepts the petition of the humblest saint. He doesn't ask you how much money you have, or how heavy you are loaded with property, but the very humblest saint that brings his petition to God, and [his] thank offering is made fragrant with the riches of His grace, and the Father accepts it as your offering, and the blessing comes to you, grace for grace.
"As you pour out your thank offering, God is glorified, and He gives you more. As you pour out thanksgiving He gives you more joy. We learn to praise God from whom all blessings flow. Shall we not begin right here to turn over the page and forget our murmurings and complainings and faultfinding, and educate the tongue to courteous words, and loving words, and sympathetic words, and tender kindness for one another of His children?
"Let us show Christ formed within, the hope of glory, by the fruit that we bear, and thus we can evidence to the world a living Saviour. . . . He arose. He broke the fetters of the tomb. In triumph He rejoices over the rent sepulchre of Joseph. "I am the resurrection and the life." Glory to God. I praise Him, the resurrection and the life. You have . . . a living Saviour. Then hang your helpless souls on Jesus Christ. Abide in the vine, and bear fruit to His glory, and His joy shall be in you, and your joy shall be full. . . . May the Holy Spirit of God impress the heart, and may the character reveal the loveliness of Jesus Christ, because you are His representatives.--Manuscript 43, 1894. (Refecting Christ, Page 285)
Notice that as Christ Jesus is our Representative before The Father, we are to be His representatives before men, to talk of His goodness, and tell of His Power, Who changed our corrupt natures, to reflect His Image by His Spirit that dwells in us, just as His Spirit was dwelling in a body made like unto men, to be our Example, and The Father was dwelling also in Him. Ellen G. White raised the questions, to point us to our Divine Helper. She said, “What is the Comforter?” The answer given was that “It”--The Comforter is the Holy Spirit of God. She then asked the question, What is the Holy Spirit? Her answer given was that “It”--The Holy Spirit stands by our side, and places our petitions before the Father all fragrant with His merits. She then said, "Let us show Christ formed within, the hope of glory, by the fruit that we bear, and thus we can evidence to the world a living Saviour. We do this by being a representative of Jesus Christ.
As a representative, or an ambassador of Jesus Christ, she is saying we are to represent Him in character, revealing His loveliness, His Joy, His Grace to others, because His Divine Spirit dwells in our human form, because we are His dwelling place--His House, and He is also The Head of His Own dwelling in the likeness of our human form, to help us to receive His divine nature. Jesus confirmed this Truth of Him being in us when in His prayer to The Father He said, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]” (John 17:9-11). Because we are His Tabernacle, or His dwelling, just as much as He is The Father’s Dwelling, which is what The Sanctuary of the congregation was revealing all along, He became a Son and The Head of His Own Dwelling, by becoming human in nature that we also might become One with Him by partaking of His divine nature, be being born of His Spirit.
What is The Glory that Christ Jesus gave to those, who received Him, that we might be one, even as He and The Father are one? Jesus made This Truth clear to those, who received Him. He did not say that He was in just one of His disciples. No. He said that He was in them, and The Father was in Him, that they might be made perfect in Him. Paul made his understanding clear to the church at Corinth, when he said of Christ Jesus, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:17, 18).
Paul was making a comparison of those, who were with him in The Faith, and who with open faces, without a veil upon their face, or upon their hearts were beholding The Lord, Who is That Spirit, The Glory of Whom was still veiled upon the hearts of many, who read the books of Moses. For he said, “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:14-16).
Because of The Glory of Christ Jesus, Which they the disciples had received, John said, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1John 1:3-6).
The early pioneers of The Faith taught that which is supported by The Scriptures. And even in the 1956 SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 6, page 1076, it is plainly stated that, “Christ is our Guide and Comforter, who comforts us in all our tribulations.” Ellen G. White said that, "The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls. He has sought to shut Jesus from their view as the Comforter, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it."" (Ellen White - The Review And Herald, August 26, 1890 par. 10)
It is written that, “The pastor who fulfills his high commission must give his people faithful instruction on every point of the Christian faith, showing them what they must be and do in order to stand perfect in the day of God. He only who is a faithful teacher of the truth will at the close of his work be able to say with Paul, "I am pure from the blood of all men." "Take heed therefore unto yourselves," the apostle admonished his brethren, "and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." If ministers of the gospel were to bear constantly in mind the fact that they are dealing with the purchase of the blood of Christ, they would have a deeper sense of the importance of their work. They are to take heed to themselves and to their flock. Their own example is to illustrate and enforce their instructions. As teachers of the way of life they should give no occasion for the truth to be evil spoken of. As representatives of Christ they are to maintain the honor of His name. By their devotion, their purity of life, their godly conversation, they are to prove themselves worthy of their high calling.” (The Acts of Apostles, Page 393, 394)
Ellen G. White was also led to write and say, “The Lord in wisdom designed to bring His people into a position where they would be separate from the world in spirit and practice, that their children might not so readily be led into idolatry and become tainted with the prevailing corruptions of this age. It is God's design that believing parents and their children should stand forth as living representatives of Christ, candidates for everlasting life. All who are partakers of the divine nature will escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. It is impossible for those who indulge the appetite to attain to Christian perfection. You cannot arouse the moral sensibilities of your children while you are not careful in the selection of their food.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 339, 400 (1870). This world is a training school for the higher school, this life a preparation for the life to come. Here we are to be prepared for entrance into the heavenly courts. Here we are to receive and believe and practice the truth, until we are made ready for a home with the saints in light.-- Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 200 (1904). (Counsels on Health, Section 13, Page 581)
Notice that as a DESIGNER, WHO works by HIS Word of Wisdom, GOD to bring His people into a position where they would be separated from the world in spirit and practice, just as HE led the children of Israel by HIS Word through Moses and Aaron that they might learn to trust in HIM by HIS Word. But many parents and their children are being fed more of the things of this world than of the things of GOD by HIS Word. And because of the tainted and the prevailing corruptions of this age, many are unable to stand forth as living representatives of Christ in this world, because they have no time to study His Character as The Standard to follow.
"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand" (Isaiah 64:8). “In His Word God compares Himself to a potter and His people to the clay. His work is to mold and fashion them after His own similitude. The lesson they are to learn is the lesson of submission. Self is not to be made prominent. If due attention is given to the divine instruction, if self is surrendered to the divine will, the hand of the Potter will produce a shapely vessel.
“The excellence of a genuine connection with Christ comes with obedience to the words, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me. . . ." The worker who has this experience has an intense longing to know the fullness of the love that passes knowledge. His capacity to enjoy the love of God constantly increases. Learning daily in the school of Christ he has a constantly increasing capacity to grasp the meaning of the sublime truths that are as far-reaching as eternity. . . .
“He realizes that he is material with which God is working, and that he must be passive in the Master's hands. Trials come to him, for unless tested by trial and disappointment he would never know his lack of wisdom and experience. If he seeks the Lord with humility and trust, every trial will work for his good. He may sometimes seem to fail, but his supposed failure to reach the place where he hoped to stand may be God's way of bringing his advancement. He thinks that he has failed, but his supposed failure means a better knowledge of himself and a firmer trust in God. . . . He may make mistakes, but he learns not to repeat these mistakes. United with Christ, the True Vine, he is enabled to bear fruit to the glory of God. . . .
“The Lord desires us to be meek and lowly and contrite, yet filled with the assurance that comes from a knowledge of the will of God. He "hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. . . . Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace . . ." (2 Tim. 1:7-9).
(In Heavenly Places, Page 28)
It is self that leads us to walk contrary to The Will of GOD, and causes us to be separated from HIM, WHO Sent HIS Son to redeem us unto HIMSELF. But GOD desirers that we might repent of our ways and return to HIM and HIS Word that we might learn of HIM by HIS Word to go for HIM by HIS Word to reveal HIM by The Power of HIS Word Will work GOD’S Will in us and through us. But for this to take place in our lives, we must learn to surrendered self to GOD’S divine will, because HE knows what will best bring to us Joy and happiness.
"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Romans 4:7, 8). "Well may our hearts turn to our Redeemer with the most perfect trust when we think of what He has done for us, even when we were sinners. Through faith we may rest in His love. "Him that cometh to me," He says, "I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
"It would be a terrible thing to stand before God clothed in sinful garments, with His eye reading every secret of our lives. But through the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice we may stand before God pure and spotless, our sins atoned for and pardoned. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). The redeemed sinner, clothed in the robes of Christ's righteousness, may stand in the presence of a sin-hating God, made perfect by the merits of the Saviour.
"Only through faith in Christ's name can the sinner be saved. . . . Faith in Christ is not the work of nature, but the work of God on human minds, wrought in the very soul by the Holy Spirit, who reveals Christ, as Christ revealed the Father. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. With its justifying, sanctifying power, it is above what men call science. It is the science of eternal realities. Human science is often deceptive and misleading, but this heavenly science never misleads. It is so simple that a child may understand it, and yet the most learned men cannot explain it. It is inexplainable and immeasurable, beyond all human expression.
"What inexpressible love has the Saviour manifested toward the children of men! Not only does He take off the brand of sin, but He cleanses and purifies the soul, clothing it in the robe of His own righteousness, which is without spot, woven in the loom of heaven. He not only lifts the curse from the sinner, but brings him into oneness with Himself, reflecting upon him the bright beams of His righteousness. He is welcomed by the heavenly universe, accepted in the beloved Son of God. What glory can fallen man, through repentance and faith, bring back to God! (In Heavenly Places, Page 51)
It is by The Help of our Redeemer, Who has Covenanted to be our Helper, to be an Advocate to all, who will come unto Him to be reshaped into His Characters, as we continue to behold Him, to be transform by His Glory from day to day. Let us look to Him to be our Guide, because He is The Way, The Truth, Who leads us unto Eternal Life.
By Carron Lake @ www.thelightoftheword.org
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbour: for we are members one of another”
(Ephesians 4:23-25)
(How many undershepherds are being mislead to follow Error?)
(Move your mouse over picture, Click the link to the study.)