Sabbath, September 12, 2009

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” Galatians 2:17.

Consciousness of one’s unworthiness

1. Looking honestly at themselves and at the lives of people around them, what advice did some men of God offer?
Psalm 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
(See Psalm 130:3.)

“While He extends to all the world His invitation to come to Him and be saved, He commissions His angels to render divine help to every soul that cometh to Him in repentance and contrition, and He comes personally by His Holy Spirit into the midst of His church. ‘If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning…. Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.’” –Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 15.

“There is no one living who fully realizes the grievous character of sin.” –1888 Materials, p. 1677.

2. After recognizing their sinful condition, what do God’s people do?
2 Chronicles 12:6 Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The Lord is righteous.
Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
(See Psalm 25:8.)

“But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 366.

Who is able to provide justification

3. Who alone lived on the earth without committing sin and maintained righteousness?
Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.
(See 1 John 2:1.)

“But when you exercise repentance toward God because you have transgressed His law, then your only hope is to have faith in Jesus Christ. If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Come to Jesus by living faith.” –The Youth’s Instructor, August 18, 1886.

“Seek to practice the life that Christ has presented to us, that is a righteous life.” –The Paulson Collection of E.G. White Letters, p. 181.

4. Therefore, in whom alone can we find righteousness and justification?
Acts 13:38, 39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Romans 3:21, 22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

“If you fall under temptation, do not become discouraged. This promise comes ringing down along the line to our time: ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ I feel that for this one promise a continual song of thanksgiving ought to go forth from the lips of mortals. Let us gather up these precious jewels of promise, and when Satan accuses us of our great sinfulness, and tempts us to doubt the power of God to save, let us repeat the words of Christ, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’” –Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, p. 158.

“The only hope for fallen man is to look to Jesus, and receive Him as the only Saviour.” –Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 367.

Justification is forgiveness

5. What is the very first meaning of justification, and how is this connected to one’s relationship with God?
Luke 18:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Acts 13:38, 39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

“Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: ‘This is My child, I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy–eternal life–because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son.’ Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ’s righteousness, stands faultless before God.” –Faith and Works, p. 103.

“The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part. Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and he is no more to doubt God’s forgiving grace.” –The Faith I Live by, p. 107.

Justification is acquittal or absolution

6. What else is included in the concept of justification?
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Isaiah 50:8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Romans 8:33, 34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

“Justification is the opposite of condemnation. God’s boundless mercy is exercised toward those who are wholly undeserving. He forgives transgressions and sins for the sake of Jesus, who has become the propitiation for our sins. Through faith in Christ, the guilty transgressor is brought into favor with God and into the strong hope of life eternal.” –Faith and Works, p. 104.

Justification is a declaration of righteousness

7. Is there an even deeper meaning to the concept of justification?
Luke 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

“The great work that is wrought for the sinner who is spotted and stained by evil is the work of justification. By Him who speaketh truth he is declared righteous. The Lord imputes unto the believer the righteousness of Christ and pronounces him righteous before the universe. He transfers his sins to Jesus, the sinner’s representative, substitute, and surety. Upon Christ He lays the iniquity of every soul that believeth. ‘He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ 2 Corinthians 5:21.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 392.

“All our transgressions are transferred to Christ. While He who knew no sin was made sin for us, and the sinless is accounted sinful, the righteousness of Christ is placed upon the undeserving, so that the repenting sinner is declared to be sinless before God.” –The Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896.