Now I ask you...

[rainbowinthesky]

All are familiar with these expressions, "You deserved it," or "he deserved it" or "they deserved it." It may have been a promotion or a raise in one's wages or whatever it might be. Do not people judge the worth of a cause by its merits? Do we not accept or reject ideas on account of their having merits or not? In financial matters, schemes, propositions, ideas and plans are rejected or approved according to their merits or demerits, are they not?

Is it not a very natural thing for human beings to treat matters or other human beings according to their merits? People "earn" merits through hard work, dedication, bravery, or through sacrificing whatever it might be. The more merits a person has earned, the more that person is worthy of notice, the more she is honored and the more she becomes the object of our admiration!

Now I ask you, Were not the condescension and humiliation of Christ of value beyond estimate? Was not His sacrificial death most worthy of our notice and admiration? Did not Christ, by His life and death, earn infinite merits? And would it not be fair to ask: In the light of the infinite sacrifice that He made, should not His merits alone be extolled?

Yet, many ask: What are the merits of Christ?

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

One of the Reformers, acknowledging his appreciation of the merits of Christ, wrote:

"Father, we had devised for ourselves many useless follies. But You have placed Your Word before me like a torch, and You have touched my heart, in order that I may hold in abomination all other MERITS save those of Jesus." Martyn, Vol.3, ch.13; The Great Controversy, 221.

This discovery by the Reformers is said to be the true light:

"As the TRUE LIGHT dawned upon their minds," "they cast themselves wholly upon the MERITS of Jesus." The Great Controversy.74.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

The Holy Spirit is the "grace" of God. It is also called "great grace" (Acts 4:33) and this great grace of the Holy Spirit (cannot be excelled) is exceedingly abundant with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus (1 Tim.1:14) and this love is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.(Rom.5:5; Rom.13:10; Gal.5:6; Rev.14:12)

And the faith by which we become partakers of this "great grace" is the faith that lays right hold upon the all-sufficient MERITS of the Savior.(Rom.3:25)

We must daily apply to the merits of the crucified and risen Savior for His intercession before the Father in our behalf is that of presenting His divine merits, claiming the gift of the Holy Spirit that He may pour it upon us.

« Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His MERITS we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. » Testimonies, Vol.5,744.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

We need them Sky as we have none of ourselves.

Gibs
_________



Yes!

"Shall selfishness come into your hearts? And will those who set not before them the pattern, Jesus, extol your merits? You have none except as they come through Jesus Christ." E.G. White, 5 B.C.1128.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

All are familiar with these expressions, "You deserved it," or "he deserved it" or "they deserved it." It may have been a promotion or a raise in one's wages or whatever it might be. Do not people judge the worth of a cause by its merits? Do we not accept or reject ideas on account of their having merits or not? In financial matters, schemes, propositions, ideas and plans are rejected or approved according to their merits or demerits, are they not?

Is it not a very natural thing for human beings to treat matters or other human beings according to their merits? People "earn" merits through hard work, dedication, bravery, or through sacrificing whatever it might be. The more merits a person has earned, the more that person is worthy of notice, the more she is honored and the more she becomes the object of our admiration!

Now I ask you, Were not the condescension and humiliation of Christ of value beyond estimate? Was not His sacrificial death most worthy of our notice and admiration? Did not Christ, by His life and death, earn infinite merits? And would it not be fair to ask: In the light of the infinite sacrifice that He made, should not His merits alone be extolled?

Yet, many ask: What are the merits of Christ?

sky
__________

I'm not disputing the merits of Christ, but thankfully, God does NOT operate on the "merit" system. If He did, we'd all be lost, for sure!

GJ
__________

GJ, you say you are not disputing the merits of Christ. That's good. So, are you daily appropriating His merits to yourself by faith, by claiming them? Unless we do, we cannot be saved, right?

Yes God does NOT operate on the "creature merit" system but He does operate on the "divine merit" system for not one of us can be saved unless we continually appropriate to ourselves the divine merits of a crucified and risen Savior.

"Unless he makes it his life business to behold the uplifted Savior and to accept the MERITS which it is his PRIVILEGE to CLAIM, the sinner CAN NO MORE BE SAVED than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." Testimonies to Ministers,93.

Thus through the Holy Spirit's influence "We shall come in repentance and contrition with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness and learn that we must DAILY APPLY to the MERITS of the BLOOD of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." Faith & Works,86.

So God does operate on the "merit" system but only the merits of Jesus Christ will avail in our behalf.

"When we seek to gain Heaven through the MERITS of Christ the soul makes progress." Faith & Works,94.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Something is terribly wrong with your head. You ought to get it examined as soon as possible!

Jesus said, "If you LOVE me, keep MY commandments."

That is sufficient.

Blackberry
________________

"If you love Me, keep my commandments." Jesus Christ.

Both the Scriptures and the Testimonies teach that we cannot love God and keep His commandments unless we approach Him trusting wholly in the MERITS of a crucified and risen Saviour. Then the love of God is shed abroad into the heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom.5:5) and His love is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

In other words, then His commandments become promises to us, most positive promises of their own fulfillment for "love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom.13:10.

Love is right doing, God's right doing in and through us as we rest in the merits of our precious Redeemer.

"God will accept everyone that comes to Him trusting wholly in the MERITS of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of feeling but there is an abiding, peaceful trust." 1 S.M.354.

The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are SUFFICIENT to present to the Father in our behalf in order to receive the power by which the requirements of the law are to be fulfilled, and that power is Christ through the Holy Spirit diffusing the love of God through our whole being.

"The love which Christ diffuses through our whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part, the brain, the heart, the nerves, it touches with healing. If frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the anxiety and care that crush the life forces. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity. It brings with it serenity and composure. It implants in the soul a joy that nothing earthly can destroy, joy in the Holy Spirit, health-giving, life-giving joy." Ministry of Healing,115.

It accomplishes everything.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

In other words, let the law take care of itself. Our part is to lay hold by faith of the MERITS of Christ and the promise is given that the righteousness of Christ will then fill up the measure of the law's requirements. It is in that sense that the law will take care of itself. Hence we read,

""We can do nothing of ourselves. In all our helpless unworthiness we must trust in the MERITS of the crucified and risen Savior. None will ever perish while they do this." Patriarchs & Prophets,203.

This is the true light, is it not?

"Though millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His MERITS will be left to perish." P.P.432.

This means that power will be given us (the power of God unto salvation ready to be revealed in this last time) to overcome all our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil and to reflect Christ's character until the full corn is in the ear. (1 Peter 1:5: Mark 4:26-29)

This message is to be proclaimed with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a large measure before probation closes.

sky

 

[Castaway57]

In other words, let the law take care of itself. Our part is to lay hold by faith of the MERITS of Christ and the promise is given that the righteousness of Christ will then fill up the measure of the law's requirements. It is in that sense that the law will take care of itself. Hence we read,

""We can do nothing of ourselves. In all our helpless unworthiness we must trust in the MERITS of the crucified and risen Savior. None will ever perish while they do this." Patriarchs & Prophets,203.

This is the true light, is it not?

"Though millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His MERITS will be left to perish." P.P.432.

This means that power will be given us (the power of God unto salvation ready to be revealed in this last time) to overcome all our inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil and to reflect Christ's character until the full corn is in the ear. (1 Peter 1:5: Mark 4:26-29)

This message is to be proclaimed with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a large measure before probation closes.

sky

And so what are these "merits?" You still have not told us.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

It is the merits of His infinite sacrifice.

"The merits of Christ's sacrifice are the foundation of the Christian's faith." G.C.73.

"The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." S.C.36.

"Present your case before God pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary's cross." F.W.106.

 

[ricker]

Something is terribly wrong with your head. You ought to get it examined as soon as possible!

Jesus said, "If you LOVE me, keep MY commandments."

That is sufficient.

Blackberry
________________

"If you love Me, keep my commandments." Jesus Christ.

Both the Scriptures and the Testimonies teach that we cannot love God and keep His commandments unless we approach Him trusting wholly in the MERITS of a crucified and risen Saviour. Then the love of God is shed abroad into the heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom.5:5) and His love is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

In other words, then His commandments become promises to us, most positive promises of their own fulfillment for "love is the fulfillment of the law." Rom.13:10.

Love is right doing, God's right doing in and through us as we rest in the merits of our precious Redeemer.

"God will accept everyone that comes to Him trusting wholly in the MERITS of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of feeling but there is an abiding, peaceful trust." 1 S.M.354.

The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are SUFFICIENT to present to the Father in our behalf in order to receive the power by which the requirements of the law are to be fulfilled, and that power is Christ through the Holy Spirit diffusing the love of God through our whole being.

"The love which Christ diffuses through our whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part, the brain, the heart, the nerves, it touches with healing. If frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the anxiety and care that crush the life forces. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity. It brings with it serenity and composure. It implants in the soul a joy that nothing earthly can destroy, joy in the Holy Spirit, health-giving, life-giving joy." Ministry of Healing,115.

It accomplishes everything.

I'm confused. Are you responding to yourself?

 

[rainbowinthesky]

I'm confused. Are you responding to yourself?

Ricker
________

I was responding to Blackberry.

Read it again.

sky

 

[Castaway57]

GJ, you say you are not disputing the merits of Christ. That's good. So, are you daily appropriating His merits to yourself by faith, by claiming them? Unless we do, we cannot be saved, right?

Yes God does NOT operate on the "creature merit" system but He does operate on the "divine merit" system for none one of us can be saved unless we continually appropriate to ourselves the divine merits of a crucified and risen Savior.

"Unless he makes it his life business to behold the uplifted Savior and to accept the MERITS which it is his PRIVILEGE to CLAIM, the sinner CAN NO MORE BE SAVED than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." Testimonies to Ministers,93.

Thus through the Holy Spirit's influence "We shall come in repentance and contrition with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness and learn that we must DAILY APPLY to the MERITS of the BLOOD of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." Faith & Works,86.

So God does operate on the "merit" system but only the merits of Jesus Christ will avail in our behalf.

"When we seek to gain Heaven through the MERITS of Christ the soul makes progress." Faith & Works,94.

sky

You are totally abusing the spirit of prophecy and making it fit your "message." You are giving people the impression that they are our Bible; and this is all wrong. Your gospel here is much different than the Bible because you have lifted small snippets of EGW out of their context. Ellen White never intended her writings to be used like this.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

"I counsel thee to buy of Me GOLD tried in the fire..." Rev.3:18.

"The gold tried in the fire is FAITH that WORKS by LOVE.(Gal.5:6) ONLY THIS CAN BRING US INTO HARMONY WITH GOD. We may be active, we may do much work; but without Love, SUCH LOVE AS DWELT IN THE HEART OF CHRIST, we can NEVER be numbered with the family of Heaven." Christ's Object Lessons.

What was the MEASURE of the Love dwelling in the heart of Jesus Christ?

"When God gave His Son to our world, He endowed human beings with imperishable riches--riches compared with which the treasured wealth of men since the world began is NOTHINGNESS. Christ came to the earth and stood before the children of men with THE HOARDED LOVE OF ETERNITY, and this is the TREASURE that, through our connection with Him, we are to receive, to reveal, and to impart." Ministry of Healing,37.

The "hoarded Love of eternity" is nothing short of the fullness of divine Light and Love and Power.(Col.2:9,10; Eph.3:14-19)

And this is the TREASURE that whosoever is this life makes it his life business to APPLY to the MERITS of the BLOOD of a crucified and risen Saviour,(Rom.3:25), is to RECEIVE, to REVEAL, and to IMPART!!!

"The indwelling of the Spirit will be shown by the outflowing of heavenly Love. The DIVINE FULLNESS will FLOW through the consecrated human agent to be GIVEN FORTH TO OTHERS." Christ's Object Lessons,419; Prophets & Kings,594; Desire of Ages,671.

Is this not a stupendous truth pregnant with eternal results?!!!

Therefore "The FAITH that WORKS by LOVE (such Love as dwelt in the heart of Christ)(Gal.5:6) is the KEY of KNOWLEDGE." Desire of Ages,139.

"The ONLY TRUE FAITH is that which WORKS by LOVE to purify the soul. It is as LEAVEN that transforms the character." Mount of Blessing,53.

Now "If the DIVINE LOVE is IMPLANTED in the SOUL, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the principle of Love is implanted in the heart, the NEW COVENANT PROMISE is fulfilled:'I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.' And if the law is written in the heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience, the SERVICE and ALLEGIANCE of LOVE, is the TRUE SIGN of DISCIPLESHIP." Steps to Christ,60.

sky (Laval)

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Hence, "To His church, Christ has given ample facilities, that He may receive a large revenue of glory from His redeemed, purchased possession. The church, (the soul that is yielded to Christ), being endowed with the righteousness of Christ, is His depository, in which the wealth of His mercy, His love, His grace, is to appear IN FULL AND FINAL DISPLAY." Testimonies to Ministers,18.

So then, "The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity will bring Heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Savior dwells. And in currents of praise and thanksgiving from the many souls THUS won to God, glory will flow back to the great Giver." Christ's Object Lessons,419.

As for myself I am in awe. The above I have posted is a simple explanation of the Word of God as found in Isaiah 60:1-5 and Revelation 18:1.

It is exciting to know that some of us will be filled with the fullness of divine light and love and power and thus be sealed for their work, to finish the work of God upon the earth.(Rom.9:28; 1 Peter 1:5)

Just to know that the earth will soon be lightened with the glory of God in full and final display makes it very exciting to be living in these last days.

Through the endowment of the Holy Spirit, (the gift that is worthy of Christ's greatness and Royalty and therefore the gift that cannot be excelled), the wealth of God's mercy, His love, His grace, is to appear in full and final display in the lives of the men and women of God's own choosing, those who now make it their life business to look to Christ and to accept His merits which they know it is their privilege to claim. (T.M.93)

Thus the law of God is to be restored to its righful position (G.C.464,467,478) by being magnifed and made honorable (Isaiah 42:21) in and through the lives of all who shall daily come to God just as they are, sinful, helpless, dependent, trusting wholly in the MERITS of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour.(Rom.3:25; 1 cor.1:30) (See 1 S.M.354,364,389)

"Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder." Isaiah 29:14.

sky

 

[ricker]

I'm confused. Are you responding to yourself?

Ricker
________

I was responding to Blackberry.

Read it again.

sky

Ah, I see, said the blind man.

 

[Castaway57]

Ah, I see, said the blind man.

"To his deaf wife as he picked up his hammer and SAW..."

 

[rainbowinthesky]

"It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to possess Christ's nature, a nature FAR ABOVE that which Adam forfeited by transgression." E.G. White, Upward Look,18.

Through the Gospel of the Merits and Righteousness of Jesus Christ fallen man may become partaker of a nature "far above" that which Adam forfeited by transgression. Being united to Christ's divine nature, man is elevated, in the scales of moral value, with God. This is the "unfathomable Gift" of God to the human race!

Only eternity can fully reveal what this gift means to us and to God and to the universe.

Being partakers of Christ's nature the redeemed are made to sit with Him at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Eph.2:6) for they are one with the Godhead!

This is the mystery that has been hidden from ages.

Of the holy angels it is written that "By gentle and patient ministry they move upon the human spirit, to bring the lost into a fellowship with Christ which is even closer than they themselves can know." Desire of Ages, 21.

Hence we read, "Through the VIRTUE of His MERITS, He gives us power to become members of the Royal Family, children of the Heavenly King." Our Father cares, p.120.*brackets supplied

The sinless angels are God's ministers (Heb.1:7) but the redeemed are members of the Royal Family sharing the throne of God, sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on High.(Eph.2:6)

This is "the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ." Rom.15:29.

"Thank God for His UNSPEAKABLE Gift" 2 Cor.9:15.

This is the "glory" that is to illuminate the whole earth before human probation closes.

Rev.18:1; Isaiah 60:1-5.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

This oneness with God through Christ is not only "unfathomable" to the angels but it is aslo a "marvel" to them and, mind you, "their great joy," to see fallen man elevated in the scales of moral value, through the merits of Christ, with God!

"The declaration in His intercessory prayer, that the Father's love is as great toward us as toward Himself, the only-begotten Son, and that we shall be with Him where He is, FOREVER ONE WITH CHRIST AND THE FATHER, is a MARVEL to the heavenly host, and it is THEIR GREAT JOY... Christ looks upon His people as the reward of all His suffering, His humiliation, and His love, and the SUPPLEMENT of His GLORY -- Christ, the great center from which radiates all glory. 'Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" Testimonies to Ministers, pp.18,19.

The supplement of His glory!

There can be no mistaking as to how little we appreciate what this means to us now and what it will mean to us, to be "forever one with Christ and the Father," just as Christ is one with the Father!

Do we begin to appreciate our holy calling?

We need to dwell on this heavenly theme: what does it mean to be one with Christ just as Christ is one with the Father!

Christ became one flesh with us that we might become one Spirit with Him.

sky

 

[Castaway57]

"It is the privilege of every believer in Christ to possess Christ's nature, a nature FAR ABOVE that which Adam forfeited by transgression." E.G. White, Upward Look,18.

Through the Gospel of the Merits and Righteousness of Jesus Christ fallen man may become partaker of a nature "far above" that which Adam forfeited by transgression. Being united to Christ's divine nature, man is elevated, in the scales of moral value, with God. This is the "unfathomable Gift" of God to the human race!

The Bible says it differently than your out of context quotes. You cannot use Ellen White's writings like this, and say it is supported by either her or the Adventist Church. The Bible does not say we are united to Christ's divine nature; it says we "partake" of it:

2Pe_1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

It is through proving His promises; and having personal experience with Him in whom we live and move and have our being that we "partake" of the divine nature. (see 1 John 1:1-3). If used correctly; this is what we would see Ellen White to be saying too. She always pointed us to the Bible; not to herself and her special writings. She never used her writings to establish doctrines. Only to point us to the Bible, and help to shed light on the Bible's meaning on something.

Only eternity can fully reveal what this gift means to us and to God and to the universe.

Being partakers of Christ's nature the redeemed are made to sit with Him at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Eph.2:6) for they are one with the Godhead!

The "gift" is not the partaking of the divine nature; the gift is a person, the Person of Jesus. Jesus is the Gift; not something we do or become. (see John 3:16).

This is the mystery that has been hidden from ages.

The "mystery" that has been hidden from ages, is "Christ and Him crucified." Nothing more. Nothing less. (Gal 6:14)

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Christ, and Him crucified is the mystery of ages.

This is the "glory" that is to illuminate the whole earth before human probation closes.sky

The "glory" that will illuminate the earth, is reflected well in Rom 3:26:

Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

You have to stop using EGW writings to make the gospel sound different than the Bible. Ellen White would never condone your mis-use of her writings.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

"We can do nothing of ourselves. In all our helpless unworthiness we must trust in the MERITS of the crucified and risen Savior. None will ever perish while they do this." Patriarchs & Prophets,203.

Is this the Gospel or not?