UNDERSTANDING BIBLE SALVATION

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=145 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" background="083ff483.gif"> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="0fc6b280.gif" border=0 width="107" height="40" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Any Questions?  Just E-Mail Me.</div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="084ff483.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#6666FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>HE IS LORD Ministries</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Times New Roman" >    </FONT> |    <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HE IS LORD Ministries"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLE STUDIES AVAILABLE"><U>BIBLE STUDIES AVAILABLE</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABORTION"><U>ABORTION</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS"><U>THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLICAL BAPTISM"><U>BIBLICAL BAPTISM</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLE PERVERSIONS"><U>BIBLE [PER]VERSIONS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FOR HONEST CATHOLICS"><U>FOR HONEST CATHOLICS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHRISTMAS AND THE LORD OF THE MOON"><U>CHRISTMAS AND THE LORD OF THE MOON</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS"><U>THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CHRONOLOGICAL CHART"><U>CHRONOLOGICAL CHART</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DANIEL CHAPTER TWO"><U>DANIEL CHAPTER TWO</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE TRUTH ABOUT DEATH"><U>THE TRUTH ABOUT DEATH</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DINNING GODS WAY"><U>DINNING GOD'S WAY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EVOLUTION"><U>EVOLUTION</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PROCLAIM A FAST"><U>PROCLAIM A FAST</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE HOLY SPIRIT"><U>THE HOLY SPIRIT</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IS THERE AN INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT?"><U>IS THERE AN INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE RETURN OF ISRAEL"><U>THE RETURN OF ISRAEL</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LETTER TO A JEHOVAHS WITNESS"><U>LETTER TO A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FOR JEWS TO CONSIDER"><U>FOR JEWS TO CONSIDER</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE MILLENNIUM"><U>THE MILLENNIUM</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MORMONISM"><U>MORMONISM</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MUSIC GODS WAY"><U>MUSIC GOD'S WAY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="QUESTIONS FOR MUSLIMS"><U>QUESTIONS FOR MUSLIMS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NAMES"><U>NAMES</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED"><U>ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PREREQUISITES FOR ANSWERED PRAYER"><U>PREREQUISITES FOR ANSWERED PRAYER</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE RAPTURE THEORY"><U>THE RAPTURE THEORY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="REASONS TO BELIEVE"><U>REASONS TO BELIEVE</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RESURRECTED, WHICH DAY"><U>RESURRECTED, WHICH DAY</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE SUNDAY SABBATH"><U>THE SUNDAY SABBATH</U></A>   |   <B>UNDERSTANDING BIBLE SALVATION</B>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOW TO BE BIBLICALLY SAVED"><U>HOW TO BE BIBLICALLY SAVED</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING"><U>SIGNS OF THE SECOND COMING</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND COMMON SENSE"><U>THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND COMMON SENSE</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET"><U>TESTS OF A TRUE PROPHET</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GODS TITHE"><U>GOD'S TITHE</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE GIFT OF TONGUES"><U>THE GIFT OF TONGUES</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BIBLICAL WINE"><U>BIBLICAL WINE</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="085f0050.gif" border=0 width="496" height="5" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> UNDERSTANDING BIBLE SALVATION</div> <div> Although we are saved ONLY or ALONE because of the "grace" (Acts 15:11; Eph. 2:5) or God, obedience is the fruit of the recognition and faith (Luke 18:42; Eph. 2:8) in God's grace.  In other words, God's grace is conditional.  Now before you toss this article away, let me illustrate.  Imagine when you are/were 16 years old, that your parents gave you your own car to drive (God's grace).  You appreciatively accept this car and their love and respect for you (your faith).  Now who owns the car?  You do, right?  But wait, there are some instructions that come with the giving of this car (conditions of grace).  You must keep a grade point average of "C" or above;  you must be home no later than 10:00 p.m.;  you must receive no speeding violations;  et cetera.  Now who do you think owns the car (grace).  Of course your parents (God) do because they can retain possession of the car (grace).  But did you hear what I said - retain possession.  This means that in essence, by accepting (faith) the car (grace), you become the owner of the car (grace) also.  Thus we see a partnership of joint ownership here.  And we can also notice the Biblical principle of God being the initiator of that grace (Rom. 3:24).  Now let me ask you a question.  In receiving this car (grace), wouldn't you also rather have a "B" than a "D" on your performance evaluation?;  wouldn't you rather be home in time to be refreshed for the next days duties?;  and wouldn't you rather have a clean driving record?  In other words, is God asking us to do things that are harmful to us, or by faith, do we obey Him because we can see both His righteousness and the benefits of doing His will?  This last statement emphasizes our faith in action.</div> <bR> <div> The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace ALONE.  However, we understand that:  "By Whom we have access by <I><B>faith</B></I> into this grace wherein we [can] stand," Rom. 5:2.  It is because of God's grace that we are drawn to the God of it:  "that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance," Rom. 2:4.  And in that drawing process comes the conviction of sin.  Salvation then, is the beginning process of God living inside of you (Col. 1:27).  But the reason "we have received grace and apostleship, [is] for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name [sake]," Rom. 1:5;  "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;  that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work," 2Co. 9:8;  "and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work," 2Th. 2:16-17.  Yes, we are saved by grace, not by works of the law.  See Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9.  The experience of salvation by grace, however, results in obedience to God's law.  See Rom. 8:1-4:  "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us," verse 4, and see also Rom. 6:15.  We are judged by the law, the great standard of righteousness, because Christ's grace has been made available as The power to obey it.  Our works are judged because grace makes possible works that are acceptable to God.  "I consent unto the law that it is good;"  "For I delight in the law of God;"  "I myself serve the law of God," Rom. 7:16, 22, and 25.  By contrast, should you ever have read to you Eph. 2:8-9, do not consent to not reading the application verse, verse 10:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus <I><B>unto good works</B></I>, which God hath before ordained <I><B>that we should walk in them</B></I>."  <B>Obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit is not legalism</B>.  By contrast, if it is, than I am a legalist.</div> <bR> <div> Whenever researching a Biblical subject, doctrinal question, obscure scripture, or any other Bible study, rarely are we given a direct answer to an elusive verse or given a pointed question with an absolute answer.  Wouldn't it be encouraging if we could just ask God directly (as in this Bible study case) the most important question of all:   "What shall <I><B><U>I do</U></B></I> to inherit eternal life?"  Mat. 19:16; Mark 10:19; Luke 10:25; 18:18.   "In a genuine revival, when the Spirit of God convicts the conscience, the earnest, anxious inquiry will be heard, `What must I do to be saved?' "  4SP:294-295.  This is the most important question of all because of its implications, effects, and benefits to oneself and ultimately to others.   All of life's many other questions merely fall in line with eternal life in hand.  <I><B>Reader</B></I>, search no longer, for God <B>has</B> been asked this question point-blank to His face in the form of Jesus Christ!  (See again Mat. 19:16; Mark 10:19; Luke 10:25; 18:18).  It is because of God's absolute life changing answer that keeps the majority of the religious world from publishing or acknowledging that we must <U>keep His commandments</U> in God's process of being saved!  (Mat. 19:17; Mark 10:19; Luke 10:26,28; 18:20).  "The law of God is an agent in every genuine conversion."  4SP:297.  Please notice also that Jesus does not answer with "just believe" (certainly "believing" being a requirement also) or a rebuke for thinking they DID have to DO something in order to be saved.  When we understand what sin is - 1Jo. 3:4; Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13-17; 1Co. 15:56  the transgression of God's laws - we learn that God saves us "from" our sins (Mat. 1:21; Acts 3:26; 1Jo. 3:5; Rev. 1:5), not "in" them.  "Entire obedience to the law of God is the condition of salvation."  18MR:74.  If we are honest with ourselves we can admit that we are all sinners, but we shouldn't finish that phrase with "[sinners still sinning but] saved by grace."  We reason that since it has been impossible "to walk, even as He walked," 1Jo. 2:6, up to this point in our lives, that God must save us <B>IN</B> our sins because of His grace, and not <B>FROM</B> our sins, as the Bible teaches.  "He saves men, not in sin, but from sin;  and those who love Him will show their love by obedience.  All true obedience comes from the heart.  It was heart work with Christ.  And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses.  The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service.  When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience.  Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us."  <U>Desire of Ages</U>, p. 668.  </div> <bR> <div> The point that most people need to recognize, is that God hates sin and wants to free us from it, both now and forever.  If you don't believe there is something to be saved from than why put forth an effort to bring people to (Christ) salvation?  God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way!  "Almost but not wholly saved means to be not almost but wholly lost."  <U>Christ's Object Lessons</U>, p. 118.  Salvation belongs solely to God;  duty and obedience belong to man (see GC88:213; GC:213). If your conscience were a body part, most people would cut it out.  If sin were offensive, you would cut it out of your life.  Sometimes the solution to a problem is found in an opposite.  The solution to the problem of hate is love;  the solution to the problem of pride is humility;  the solution to the problem of damnation is salvation.  Therefore, the solution to sin, which is disobedience to God's law, is obedience to that Law, and the opposite of transgression of the Law, is obedience to the Law.  This will bring the end result of salvation.  Let me add something for you to consider right here.  Adam and Eve couldn't add to their salvation by being obedient, but they could (and did) lose their salvation by being disobedient.  So it is with us:  To obey is to live, to disobey is to die.</div> <bR> <div> Freedom does not mean, nor should it bring anarchy.  Even in a true state of bliss, there must of nessesity be rules in which too be governed by, in order for all to enjoy the rights granted to us by being free.  The meaning of JUST is:  "That which conforms to law."  Justice than:  "Ensures that a person receives the award or punishment they deserve."  Therefore, INJUSTICE implies that a righteous law exists and will be inforced and that there is an Authority figure that will require JUSTICE.  Or else there is no such thing as Injustice.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Now Let's Look At The Process In Order</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>SAVED BY GRACE</B></I> - 2Co. 3:5; Rom. 8:24; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-7.</div> <bR> <div> "Let the subject be made distinct and plain that it is not possible to effect anything in our standing before God or in the gift of God to us through creature merit.  Should faith and works purchase the gift of salvation for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 19-20</U>.  "Eternal life is an infinite gift.  This places it outside the possibility of our earning it, because it is infinite.  It must necessarily be a gift.  As a gift it must be received by faith, and gratitude and praise be offered to God."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 27</U>.  "You cannot see that Christ does it all... You cannot have a thought without Christ.  You cannot have an inclination to come to Him unless He sets in motion influences and impresses His Spirit upon the human mind.  And if there is a man on the face of the earth who has any inclination toward God, it is because of the many influences that are set to work to bear upon his mind and heart.  Those influences call for the allegiance to God and an appreciation of the great work that God has done for him.  Then don't let us ever say that we can repent of ourselves, and then Christ will pardon.  No, indeed.  It is the favor of God that pardons.  It is the favor of God that leads us by His power to repentance.  Therfore, it is all of Jesus Christ, everything of Him, and you want to just give back glory to God."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 73</U>.  "It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy."  <U>Steps to Christ, p. 40</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>THE NEED TO REPENT</B></I> - Eze. 18:30;  Luke 13:3,5; Rom. 2:4; 2Pe. 3:9; Rev. 2:5.</div> <bR> <div> "The first step toward heaven is conviction of sin, the second is repentance and obedience."  <U>Review and Herald, Book 3, p. 291</U>.  "The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility.  [Because] We need to repent constantly, that we may be constantly victorious.  When we have true humility, we have victory.  The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises.  If the soul is trusting and working obediently, the mind is susceptible to divine impressions, and the light of God shines in, enlightening the understanding."  <U>Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 959</U>.  "Now, how is it that a man will repent?  Is it anything of himself?  No;  because the natural heart is at enmity with God.  Then how can the natural heart stir itself up to repentance when it has no power to do so?  What is it that brings man to repentance?  It is Jesus Christ."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 64</U>.  Repentance is associated with faith and is urged in the gospel as essential to salvation... There is no salvation without repentance.  No impenitent sinner can believe with his heart unto righteousness.  Repentance is described by Paul as a godly sorrow for sin that `worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of' (2 Corinthians 7:10).  This repentance has in it nothing of the nature of merit, but it prepares the heart for the acceptance of Christ as the only Saviour, the only hope of the lost sinner."  <U>Faith and Works, p.99</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>THE POWER OF CHOICE</B></I> - Deu. 30:19; Jos. 24:15; 1Ki. 18:21; Isa. 7:15; 56:4; Mat. 6:24; Luke 16:13; Rom. 6:16.</div> <bR> <div> "Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter.  A noble, all-round character is not inherited.  It does not come to us by accident.  A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ.  God gives the talents, the powers of the mind;  we form the character.  It is formed by hard, stern battles with self.  Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies.  We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.  Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character.  If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life.  The impossibility lies in your own will.  If you will not, then you can not overcome.  The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God."  <U>Christ's Object Lessons, p. 331</U>.  "He has placed man's destiny in his own hands, telling him that his future welfare depends on his choice.  To be saved, he must cooperate with God in His work of restoration."  <U>Manuscript Release, Book 18, p. 271</U>.  "God placed man under law, as an indispensable condition of his very existence.  He was a subject of the divine government, and there can be no government without law.  God might have created man without the power to transgress His law;  He might have withheld the hand of Adam from touching the forbidden fruit;  but in that case man would have been, not a free moral agent, but a mere automation.  Without freedom of choice, his obedience would not have been voluntary, but forced.  There could have been no development of character.  Such a course would have been contrary to God's plan..."  <U>Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 49</U>.  "The Bible teaches that everything regarding our salvation depends upon our own course of action.  If we perish, the responsibility will rest wholly upon ourselves."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 48</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>GRACE THAT BEARS FRUIT</B></I> - Rom. 7:16,22,25; Eph. 2:10.</div> <bR> <div> "No work of man can merit for him the pardoning love of God, but the love of God pervading the soul will lead him to do those things which were always required of God and that he should do with pleasure.  He has done only that which duty ever required of him."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 23</U>.  "No commandment-breaker can be permitted to enter heaven;  for he who was once a pure and exalted covering cherub was thrust out for rebelling against the government of God."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 29</U>.  "God has not given His Son to a life of suffering and ignominy and a shameful death to release man from obedience to the divine law."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 30</U>.  He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility.  Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his works should not be of himself;  Christ should work in him to will and to do of His good pleasure."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 94</U>.  "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."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 100</U>.  Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience.  We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith.  But obedience is the fruit of faith... That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption.  `By grace are ye saved through faith.'  But `faith, if it hath not works, is dead.'  Ephesians 2:8;  James 2:17... The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been, - just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,- perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness.  If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled.  The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized."  <U>Steps to Christ, p. 40-42</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>GRACE AND GOD'S LAW</B></I> - Rom. 1:13; 8:4; Gal. 3:12,21,24-25.</div> <bR> <div> "While good works eill not save even one soul, yet it is impossible for even one soul to be saved without good works.  God saves us under a law," <U>Selected Messages Book One</U>, p. 377.  "It is the sophistry of Satan that the death of Christ brought in grace to take the place of the law.  The death of Jesus did not change or annul or lessen in the slightest degree the law of Ten Commandments.  That precious grace offered to men through a Saviour's blood establishes the law of God.  Since the fall of man, Bod's moral government and His grace are inseparable.  They go hand in hand through all dispensations... The very fact of the death of God's dear Son to redeem man shows the immutability of the divine law.  How easily, fom the transgressor's standpoint, could God have abolished His law, thus providing a way whereby men could be saved and Christ remanin in heaven!  The doctrine which teaches freedom, through grace, to break the law is a fatal delusion.  Every transgressor of God's law is a sinner, and none can be sanctified while living in known sin."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 30</U>.  "The condescension and agony of God's dear Son were not endured to purchase for man liberty to transgress the Father's law and yet sit down with Christ in His throne.  It was that through His merits and the exercise of repentance and faith the most guilty sinner might receive pardon and obtain strength to live a live of obedience.  The sinner is not saved in his sins, but from his sins... It is impossible for an individual to experience Bible sanctification while he heolds that f he believes in Christ it is immaterial whether he obeys God's law or disobeys it."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 31</U>.  "God's law is as immutable and unchangeable as His character.  Whatever men may say or do to make it void does not change its claims or release them from their obligation to obey."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 42</U>.  "The Lord requires at this time just whatHe required of Adam in Eden - perfect obedience to the law of God.  We must have righteousness without a flaw,  without a blemish.  God gave His Son to die for the world, but He did not die to repeal the law which was holy and just and god.  The sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is an unanswerable argument showing the immutability of the law... The cross of Calvary forever condemns the idea... that the death of Christ abolished not only the typical system of sacrifices and ceremonies but the unchangeable law of God, the foundation of His throne, the transcript of His character."  <U>Faith and Works, pp. 89-90</U>.  "There are conditions to our receiving justification and sanctification, and the righteousness of Christ... While good works will not save even one soul, yet it is impossible for even one soul to be save without good works.  God saves us under a law, that we must ask if we would receive, seek if we would find, and knock if we would nave the door opened unto us."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 111</U>.  "God could not alter one jot or tittle of His holy law to meet man in his fallen condition;  for this would reflect discredit upon the sisdom of God in making a law by which to govern heaven and earth."  <U>Faith and Works, pp. 117-118</U>.  "The death of Christ was to forever settle the question of the validity of the law of Jehovah.  Having suffered the full penalty for a guilty world, Jesus became the Mediator between God and man, to restore the repenting soul to favor with God by giving him grace to keep the law of the Most Hign.  Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them to the very letter.  The atonement of Calvary vindicated the law of God as holy, just, and true,"  <U>Faith and Works, pp. 118-119</U>.  "God has laid down the conditions of salvation.  He requires that men keep His commandments as obedient children.  The Holy Scriptures are full of lessons showing that God is satisfied with no partial obedience.  He does not leave men to rely on their human judgment, and select that portion of His law which they choose to obey.  They are required to have correct views of duty.  They are not at liberty to accept what ignorant, sinful, feeble man may suggest, believe, or urge upon them;  but they must take God's word, and walk in accordance with His revealed will."  ST, July 24, 1884.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>WHAT IS FAITH?</B></I> - Rom. 5:1; Heb. 11:1,6.</div> <bR> <div> "There is danger in regarding justification by faith as placing merit on faith.  When you take the righteousness of Christ as a free gift you are justified freely through the redemption of Christ.  What is faith?  [Heb. 11:1 quoted].  It is an assent of the understanding to God's words which binds the heart in willing consecration and service to God, Who gave the understanding, Who moved on the heart, Who first drew the mind to view Christ on the cross of Calvary.  Faith is rendering to God the intellectual powers, abandonment of the mind and will to God, and making Christ the only door to enter into the kingdom of heaven."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 25</U>.  "Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners;  not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin.  Faith can present Christ's perfect obedience instead of the sinner's transgression and defection."  <U>Faith and Works, pp. 100-101</U>.  "As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ's atonement in his behalf and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned... 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."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 103</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>FAITH AND WORKS</B></I> - Rom. 3:31; Jam. 1:22,25; 2:17-18. [Yes, James is in the Bible.]</div> <bR> <div> "Let this point be fully settled in every mind:  If we accept Christ as a Redeemer, we must accept Him as a Ruler.  We cannot have the assurance and perfect confiding trust in Christ as our Saviour until we acknowledge Him as our King and are obedient to His commandments.  Thus we evidence our allegiance to God.  We have then the genuine ring in our faith, for it is a working faith.  It works by love."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 16</U>.  "There are many in the Christian world who claim that all that is necessary to salvation is to have faith;  works are nothing, faith is only essential.  But God's Word tells us that faith without works is dead, being alone.  Many refuse to obey God's commandments, yet they make a great deal of faith.  But faith must have a foundation.  God's promises are all made upon conditions.  If we do His will, if we walk in truth, then we may ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us.  While we earnestly endeavor to be obedient, God will hear our petitions;  but He will not bless us in disobedience.  If we choose to disobey His commandments, we may cry, `Faith, faith, only have faith,' and the response will come back from the sure Word of God, `Faith without works is dead.'  (James 2:20).  Such faith will only be as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal.  In order to have the benefits of God's grace we must do our part;  we must faithfully work and bring forth fruits meet for repentance."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 47</U>.  "Faith and works go hand in hand;  they act harmoniously in the work of overcoming.  Works without faith are dead, and faith without works is dead.  Works will never save us;  it is the merit of Christ that will avail in our behalf."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 48</U>.  God requires at this time just what He required of the holy pair in Eden - perfect obedience to His requirements.  His law remains the same in all ages.  The great standard of righteousness presented in the Old Testament is not lowered in the New.  It is not the work of the gospel to weaken the claims of God's holy law but to bring men up where they can keep its precepts... While true faith trusts wholly in Christ for salvation, it will lead to perfect conformity to the law of God.  Faith is manifested by works."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 52</U>.  "Jesus died to save His people from their sins, and redemption in Christ means to cease the transgression of the law of God and to be free from every sin;  no heart that is stirred with enmity against the law of God is in harmony with Christ, who suffered on Calvary to vindicate and exalt the law before the universe... While we are to be in harmony with God's law, we are not saved by the works of the law, yet we cannot be saved without obedience.  The law is the standard by which character is measured. But we cannot possibly keep the commandments of God without the regeneration grace of Christ.  Jesus alone can cleanse us from all sin.  He does not save us by law, neither will He save us in disobedience to law."  <U>Faith and Works, pp. 95-96</U>.  "In order for man to be justified by faith, faith must reach a point where it will control the affections and impulses of the heart;  and it is by obedience that faith itself is made perfect."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 100</U>.  "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."  <U>Faith and Works, p. 101</U>.</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>TRUE CHRISTIANITY, TRUE SALVATION</B></I> - Lev. 19:2; 20:7,26; 1Co. 3:8; 10:13; 1Jo. 2:3-7; 5:2-3; Rev. 2:23.</div> <bR> <div> "There can be no true conversion without the giving up of sin," <U>Faith and Works, p. 25</U>.  "Christianity is simply living by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  We are to believe in, and live in, Christ, Who is the way, the truth, and the life.  We have faith in God when we believe His Word;  we trust and obey God when we keep His commandments;  and we love God when we love His law.  Believing a lie will not put any one of us in the way of being sanctified.  Should all the ministers in the world tell us that we were safe in disobeying a single precept of the holy standard of righteousness, it would not lessen our obligations nor make our guilt less, if we reject a plain `Thou shalt' or `Thou shalt not.' "  <U>RH, March 25, 1902</U>; <U>Faith and Works, p. 122</U>.  "And when man is convicted of sin, when he realizes his lost and undone condition, Jesus reveals Himself as a sin-pardoning Saviour.  Through Him the sinner may obtain forgiveness, though he has failed so decidedly in his duty to render obedience to God.  But salvation is never gained by abolishing the law, or lessening its sacred claims."  ST, November 26, 1885 .  "Let no one say that works have nothing to do with your rank and position before God.  In the judgment the sentence pronounced is according to what has been done or to what has been left undone (Mat. 25:34-40).  Effort and labor are required on the part of the receiver of God's grace;  for it is the fruit that makes manifest what is the character of the tree."  <U>Selected Messages Book One</U>, p. 382.  "When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit."  ST, June 16, 1890; <U>Selected Messages Book One</U>, p. 382.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto: heislord@teacher.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto: heislord@teacher.com"><U><IMG SRC="1d44d1f0.gif" border=0 width="77" height="31" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>