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the truth remains

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rainbowinthesky

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"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:3-5). Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light. He can say with rejoicing, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7). {FW 101.1}

Quoting the whole paragraph proves my point exactly and that is that the only way we can attain to righteousness and righteousness is obedience to the law (as stated in the quote) is through faith. By faith we can BRING to God the MERITS of Christ (as stated in the quote).

The rest of the paragraph CLEARLY tells us what happens when we bring to God the merits of Christ.

This shows clearly that our focus is to be on the merits of the Redeemer.

We bring the merits of Christ to the Father and plead them in our behalf and then:

1. He receives us unto Himself

2. He forgives us and treats us as though we had never sinned.

3. This is how faith is accounted righteousness.

4. He loves us as He loves Jesus.

5. And as we continue in this faith which is to rest in the merits
of our Redeemer, we may go on from grace to grace, from
strength to strength, and from victory to victory.

So what is the only true faith that will benefit us?

"The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him
as a personal Savior: which appropriates His MERITS to ourselves." Desire of Ages,347.

We appropriate Christ's merits to ourselves by claiming them and that is living faith. (T.M.93; F.W.64)

Again these statements clearly show how simple the mattter of salvation is.

sky
 
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rainbowinthesky

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Two statements that above all others put everything into perspective are the following ones. They show the perfect relation and harmony between faith, merits, grace, works, and reward.

"We are accepted through Christ’s merits alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of love, which we perform, are the fruits of faith; and they become a blessing to us; for men are to be rewarded according to their works. It is the fragrance of the merit of Christ that makes our good works acceptable to God, and it is grace that enables us to do the works for which He rewards us. Our works (the works that the Holy Spirit enables us to do) in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. Luke 17:10. We deserve no thanks from God. We have only done what it was our duty to do, and our works could not have been performed by the strength of our own sinful nature.” 5 B.C.1122. *brackets supplied

This statement is a complete statement in itself.

Its declarations are so clear that none need err.

It teaches us that the grace of God which enables us to do the good works of obedience is obtained solely through faith in the merits of the Redeemer. It also teaches us that in and of themselves these good works have no merit and yet God will reward us for these good works as though we had done them ourselves. Though we do not deserve any thanks from Him, we will be rewarded for these good works.

The next one is very similar:

"Although we have no merit in ourselves, in the great goodness and love of God we are rewarded as if the merit were our own. When we have done all the good we can possibly do, we are still unprofitable servants. We have done only what was our duty. What we have accomplished has been wrought solely through the grace of Christ, and no reward is due to us from God on the ground of our merit. But through the merit of our Saviour, every promise that God has made will be fulfilled, and every man will be rewarded according to his deeds." RH, June 27, 1893 par. 15.

This is the 1888 message of the merits and righteousness of Christ in clear, distinct lines.

Let us praise and thank God for it always.

sky

*At the gates of Heaven the redeemed will confess themselves to be "unprofitable servants". (Luke 17:10) They will acknowledge that Christ and His righteousness accomplished everything and if they walk through the everlasting gates they will declare that it is solely on account of the all-sufficient merits of their precious Redeemer. And then the Father will say, "Good and faithful servants. Enter in and take possession of the Kingdom which has been prepared for you before the foundation of the world."
 
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Castaway57

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Looks like you are changing your tune a little bit. Your "message" is very mixed, at best. Your opening post, and it's opening sentence says: " Originally Posted by rainbowinthesky
Whatever may be said or claimed in regard to Seventh-day Adventism or Ellen G. White or anything connected with them and their history, the truth remains and that is that the ONLY WAY to attain to righteousness (and righteousness is love and love is the fulfilment of the law,,, Rom.13:10; 5:5; Gal.5:6)

Then you mix in a few things about the "merits" and we are just supposed to trust you that you have correctly, and in context, picked these sentences out of the spirit of prophecy; (and I have shown that you have not), I sincerely have no idea how we are to believe your priorities here. I am sorry if that offends you. But this kind of thing could be avoided if you were to use the testimonies in their intended ways.

Your emphasis is clear, and you have not shown that you are correctly using the testimonies.

​
 
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Castaway57

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rainbowinthesky said:
I have not changed my "tune" at all.

I have made my position clear from the beginning.

You are, of course, entitled to agree or disagree.

sky
Click to expand...
According to your opening post, the first sentence; yes, you did change your tune. Just sayin'

And what's worse, you have two opposing messages, side by side. Its almost impossible to know exactly what you mean.
 
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Castaway57

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I think that our General Conference has shown a much brighter picture of the salvation "truth that remains:" It is much more Biblical.
 
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rainbowinthesky

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Castaway57 said:
According to your opening post, the first sentence; yes, you did change your tune. Just sayin'

And what's worse, you have two opposing messages, side by side. Its almost impossible to know exactly what you mean.
Click to expand...

Really?

Oh well, I hope you are wrong for my soul's sake.

God bless.

sky
 
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rainbowinthesky

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Here is part of a letter Martin Luther wrote to the then pope Leo taken from D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, p.202:

"'From faith,' continues Luther,'proceeds the love of God; from love proceeds a life full of liberty, charity, and joy. Oh! how noble and elevated is the christian life! But, alas! no one knows it, no one preaches it. BY FAITH THE CHRISTIAN ASCENDS TO GOD; by love, he descends even to man, and yet he abides ever with God. This is true liberty--a liberty which surpasses all others as much as the heavens are above the earth."

This is "the faith that works by love" to purify the soul. Galatians 5:6.

The faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the spotless Lamb of God.

Very similar language used by E.G. White:

"Christ places His own merits upon man and thus ELEVATES him in the scales of moral value with God." E.G. White, Our Father Cares,121.

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

"God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the MERITS of the crucified Savior. LOVE SPRINGS UP IN THE HEART. There may me no ecstasy of feeling but there is an abiding, peaceful trust." Selected Messages, Vol.1,354.

"Every where Luther endeavoured to establish the truths that he had discovered and to enlighten the members of his order--'Do not bind yourselves to Aristotle, or to any other teacher of a deceitful philosophy,' said he to the monks,'but read the Word of God with diligence. Do not look for salvation in your own strength or in your good works, but in the MERITS of Christ and in God's GRACE." D'aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century,78.

Hence we read, "How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's rightousness. God has given them His message. They bear the Word of the Lord: There is salvation for you but ONLY through the MERITS of Jesus Christ. The GRACE of the Holy Spirit has been offered to you again and again." Tesimonies to Ministers,96,7.

"The only faith that will BENEFIT us is that which embraces Him as a personal Savior: which appropriates His MERITS to ourselves." Desire of Ages,347.

"Unless he makes it his lifebusiness 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.

"Now it has been Satan's determined purpose to eclipse the view of Jesus and lead men to look to man, and trust to man, and be educated to expect help from man. For years the church has been looking to man and expecting much from man, but not looking to Jesus, in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered... Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His DIVINE PERSON, to His MERITS, and to His CHANGELESS LOVE for the human family... 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 THE HOLY SPIRIT in a large measure." Testimonies to Ministers,93,92.

sky
 
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rainbowinthesky

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Willie T said:
Can one of you explain Matthew 12:1 to me?

Were not the disciples ignoring the precept to keep the Sabeth holy by "reaping" grain on the wrong day?
Click to expand...

The best answer I have ever read is in the following:

Upon one Sabbath day, as the Saviour and His disciples returned from the place of worship, they passed through a field of ripening grain. Jesus had continued His work to a late hour, and while passing through the fields, the disciples began to gather the heads of grain, and to eat the kernels after rubbing them in their hands. On any other day this act would have excited no comment, for one passing through a field of grain, an orchard, or a vineyard, was at liberty to gather what he desired to eat. See Deut. 23:24, 25. But to do this on the Sabbath was held to be an act of desecration. Not only was the gathering of the grain a kind of reaping, but the rubbing of it in the hands was a kind of threshing. Thus, in the opinion of the rabbis, there was a double offense.

The spies at once complained to Jesus, saying, "Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day."

When accused of Sabbathbreaking at Bethesda, Jesus defended Himself by affirming His Sonship to God, and declaring that He worked in harmony with the Father. Now that the disciples are attacked, He cites His accusers to examples from the Old Testament, acts performed on the Sabbath by those who were in the service of God.

The Jewish teachers prided themselves on their knowledge of the Scriptures, and in the Saviour's answer there was an implied rebuke for their ignorance of the Sacred Writings. "Have ye not read so much as this," He said, "what David did, when himself was an hungered, and they which were with him; how he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, . . . which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?" "And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." "Have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple." "The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." Luke 6:3, 4; Mark 2:27, 28; Matt. 12:5, 6.

If it was right for David to satisfy his hunger by eating of the bread that had been set apart to a holy use, then it was right for the disciples to supply their need by plucking the grain upon the sacred hours of the Sabbath. Again, the priests in the temple performed greater labor on the Sabbath than upon other days. The same labor in secular business would be sinful; but the work of the priests was in the service of God. They were performing those rites that pointed to the redeeming power of Christ, and their labor was in harmony with the object of the Sabbath. But now Christ Himself had come. The disciples, in doing the work of Christ, were engaged in God's service, and that which was necessary for the accomplishment of this work it was right to do on the Sabbath day.

Christ would teach His disciples and His enemies that the service of God is first of all. The object of God's work in this world is the redemption of man; therefore that which is necessary to be done on the Sabbath in the accomplishment of this work is in accord with the Sabbath law. Jesus then crowned His argument by declaring Himself the "Lord of the Sabbath,"--One above all question and above all law. This infinite Judge acquits the disciples of blame, appealing to the very statutes they are accused of violating.

Jesus did not let the matter pass with administering a rebuke to His enemies. He declared that in their blindness they had mistaken the object of the Sabbath. He said, "If ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless." Matt. 12:7. Their many heartless rites could not supply the lack of that truthful integrity and tender love which will ever characterize the true worshiper of God." Desire of Ages,284,5.

Hope this helped answer your question.

sky
 
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Willie T

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But weren't Jews required to make previous arrangements for those kinds of things.... (food preparation) like picking grain the day before, and carrying it along in a pouch, or something?

It seems people could point to these examples, and say "They did it, so can I." Did Jesus ever travel on the Sabbath? I mean, just to go somewhere, not necessarily returning from preaching.

I'm asking because at our church, we have the choice of worshiping on either Saturday or Sunday, and I do sometimes wonder about it.
 
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rainbowinthesky

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Of course they were but it just happened, that for some reason unknown to us, they had nothing to eat that Sabbath day.

There was a certain distance they could travel on the Sabbath but I don't remember how far.

So you have the choice to worship on either Saturday or Sunday. This is the Catholic church right?

sky
 
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Castaway57

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I think the principle of a "preparation day" is what we could derive from this. Even for those who keep Sunday; I would imagine many do prepare for their day of worship in advance of the day. There are sure to be many different views on the preparations needed, and what is OK or not OK on the day of worship to do or not do. It can get a little confusing, but I think it's best to try to respect any customs or traditions your church may have, as long as it is not going to make you do something you know to be wrong.
 
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Castaway57

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I agree; this is a good answer in this case.
 
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rainbowinthesky

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Thanks Cast.


To his opponents Luther replied,

"'We can always see the MOTE in our brother's eye, but we overlook the BEAM in our own. Who does not know that a man rarely puts forth any new idea without having some apperance of pride, and without being accused of exciting quarrels? IF HUMILITY HERSELF SHOULD UNDERTAKE SOMETHING NEW, HER OPPONENTS WOULD ACCUSE HER OF PRIDE! Why were Christ and all the martyrs put to death? Because they seemed to be proud contemners of the wisdom of the time, and because they advanced novelties, without having first humbly taken counsel of the oracles of the ancient opinions.

Do not let the wise of our days expect from me humility, or rather hypocrisy, enough to ask their advice, before publishing what duty compels me to say. Whatever I do will be done, not by the prudence of men, but by the counsel of God. If the work be of God, who shall stop it? if it be not, who can forward it? Not my will, nor theirs, nor ours; but thy will, O Holy Father, which art in Heaven.'--

What courage, what noble enthusiasm, what confidence in God, and above all, what truth in these words, and what truth for all ages!" D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, p.103.

Today:

"Those to whom the message of truth is spoken seldom ask, 'Is it true?' but 'by whom is it advocated?' Multitudes estimate it by the numbers who accept it; and the question is still asked,'Have any of the religious leaders believed?' Men are no more favorable to real godliness now than in the days of Christ. They are just as intently seeking earthly good, to the neglect of eternal riches; and it is NOT AN ARGUMENT AGAINST THE TRUTH that large numbers are not ready to accept it, or that it is not received by the world's great men, or even by the relgious leaders." Desire of Ages,459,460.

"A nation's sin and a nation's ruin were due to the religious leaders." Desire of Ages,738.

sky
 
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rainbowinthesky

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More from D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, p.17:

"The SUFFERINGS and MERITS of Christ were looked upon as an IDLE TALE, or as the FICTIONS of Homer. There was no thought of the faith by which we become partakers of the Saviour's righteousness and of the heritage of eternal life. Christ was looked upon as a severe judge, prepared to condemn all who should not have recourse to the intercession of the saints, or to papal indulgences. Other intercessors appeared in His place:--first the Virgin Mary, like the Diana of paganism, and then the saints, whose numbers were continually augmented by the popes. These mediators granted their intercession only to such applicants as had deserved well of the orders founded by them. For this it was necessary to do, not what God had commanded in His Word, but to perform a number of works invented by monks and priests, and which brought money to the treasury. These works were Ave-Marias, the prayers of Saint Ursula and of Saint Bridget: they must chant and cry night and day. There were as many resorts for pilgrims as there were mountainss, forests, and valleys. But these penances might be compounded for with money. The people, therefore, brought to the convents and to the priests money and every thing that had any value--fowls, ducks, geese, eggs, wax, straw, butter, and cheese. Then the hymns resounded, the bells rang, incense filled the sanctuary, sacrifices were offered up, the larders overflowed, the glasses went round, and masses terminated and concealed these pious orgies. The bishops no longer preached, but they consecrated priests, bells, monks, and cemeteries; and all this brought in a large revenue. Bones, arms, and feet were preserved in gold and silver boxes; they were given out during mass for the faithful to kiss, and this too was a source of great profit.'All these people maintained that the pope, sitting as God in the temple of God, could not err, and they would not suffer any contradiction.'"

One of the Reformers, having been enlightened by the Lord as to the simplicity of the matter of salvation, wrote these magnificent words:

"'O Father,' he cried,'we had devised for ouselves 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.

"'I want," says one, 'to reason out this matter.' Well, reason it out if you can. 'The wind bloweth where it listeth,' and you hear the sound thereof, but you cannot explain it. And no more can you explain the things of God upon the human heart. You cannot explain this faith that lays right hold upon the MERITS of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior TO BRING Christ's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do," for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everthing." Faith & Works,65,66.

sky
 
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rainbowinthesky

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The Truth Remains

"The more we feel the truth that all men are guilty before God, the more also shall we cling to Christ (to His merits) as the only source of grace. How could we then place the church in the same rank with Christ, since it is but an assembly of all those who are found in the same wretched state by nature? But SO SOON AS WE ATTRIBUTE TO MAN A PECULIAR HOLINESS, A PERSONAL MERIT, EVERY THING IS CHANGED. The clergy and the monks are looked upon as the most natural CHANNELS through which to receive the GRACE of God. This was what happened often after the times of Pelagius. Salvation, taken from the hands of God, fell into those of the priests, who set themselves in the place of our Lord. Souls thirsting for pardon, were no more to look to Heaven, but to the church, and above all to its pretended head. To these blinded souls the Roman pontiff was God. Hence the greatness of the popes--hence unutterable abuses. The evil spread still further. When Pelagianism laid down the doctrine that man could attain a state of perfect santification, it affirmed also that the MERITS of saints and martyrs might be applied to the church. A peculiar power was attributed to their intercession. Prayers were made to them; their aid was invoked in all the sorrows of life; and a real idolatry thus supplanted the adoration of the living and true God." D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, p.15.*Parenthesis supplied.

"Discussions may be entered into by mortals streneously advocating CREATURE MERIT, and each man striving for the supremacy, but they simply do not know that all the time they are misrepresenting the truth as it is in Jesus. They are in a fog of bewilderment. They need the divine love of God which is represented by gold tried in the fire; they need the white raiment of Christ's pure character; and they need the heavenly eyesalve that they might DISCERN WITH ASTONISHMENT THE UTTER WORTHLESSNESS OF CREATURE MERIT TO EARN THE WAVES OF ETERNAL LIFE." Faith & Works,23.

"When we ACKNOWLEDGE our APPRECIATION of Christ's MERITS fragrance is given to our intercessions. When we approach God through the VIRTUE of the Redeemer's MERITS, Christ places us close by His side, encircling us with His human arm, while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Infinite. He puts His MERITS as sweet incense in the censor in our hands, in order to encourage our petitions." E.G. White, Our Father Cares,120

"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.
 
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Called out

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The truth is, that we are to love Yehowah our Father, with all our heart, mind and soul.

Psalms 145:18 YEHOWAH is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 YEHOWAH preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy . 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of YEHOWAH: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
 
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rainbowinthesky

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The truth is, that we are to love Yehowah our Father, with all our heart, mind and soul.

Called Out
__________

True, and we must know the how.

Here is what I understand as to the "how".

To those who, day by day, come to God just as they are, sinful, helpless, dependent, trusting wholly in the MERITS of the blood shed for them upon Calvary's cross, trusting wholly in the merits of the crucified and risen Savior, every commandment is the voice of God speaking to the soul in promise. To them every precept of that law becomes a promise, a most positive promise of its own fulfillment.

For the law of God's mouth is Spirit and Life. (John 6:63)

Right?

sky
 
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