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USING
RIGHTEOUSNESS
IS LIKE
USING BAKERS’ YEAST
This book is based on the
words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:20-21
and "Christ’s
Object Lessons" pages 95-102
The Bible quotes are from the king James version but with some modifications in spelling and word position.
The Place of the Bible
in Righteousness by Faith
Many educated and influential men had come to hear the Prophet of Galilee. Some of these looked with curious interest upon the huge crowd that had gathered about Christ as He taught by the sea. In this great throng all classes of society were present. There were the poor, the unlearned, the ragged beggar, the robber with the mark of guilt upon his face, the disfigured, the drifters, the business man and the man of leisure, high and low, rich and poor, all crowding upon one another for a place to stand and hear the words of Christ. As these cultured men gazed upon the strange assembly, they asked themselves, "Is the kingdom of God made up of people like this?"
The Saviour replied by a parable:
"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven [or baker’s yeast], which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal [flour], till the whole was leavened". Matthew 13:33.
Among the Jews leaven was sometimes used as a symbol of sin. At the time of the Passover the people were directed to remove all the yeast from their houses as they were to put away sin from their hearts. Christ warned His disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy". Luke 12:1. And the apostle Paul speaks of the "leaven of malice [spitefulness] and wickedness". 1 Corinthians 5:8.
But in the Saviour's parable, leaven is used to represent the use of righteousness in the kingdom of heaven. It illustrates the life-giving, changing power of the grace of God.
None are so disgusting, none have fallen so low, as to be beyond the working of this power. In anyone who will submit themselves to the Holy Spirit a new principle of life is implanted; the lost image of God is being restored in humanity.
But man cannot change himself by his own will power. He has no power by which this change can be made.
The yeast - something completely from outside - must be put into the flour before the desired change can be made in it. So the grace, or righteousness, of God must be received by the sinner before he can be fitted for the kingdom of glory. All the culture and education which the world can give will not make a degraded child of sin a child of heaven. The renewing energy must come from God. The change can be made only by the Holy Spirit. All who want to be saved, high or low, rich or poor, must submit to the working of this power.
As the yeast, when mixed with the flour, works from the inside outwards, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace, or righteousness, of God works to transform the life. No mere external or outward change is enough to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart, or inner nature.
A claim to have faith, and the actual possession of righteousness in the soul, are two different things. The mere knowledge of truth is not enough. We may possess knowledge, but the tendency of our thoughts may not be changed. The heart must be converted and sanctified (i.e. cleaned up).
The man or woman who tries to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely - because he or she is required to do so - will never enter into the joy of obedience. They do not obey.
When the requirements of God are considered a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that our life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle inside us. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right - because right doing is pleasing to God.
The great truth of the conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit is presented in Christ's words to Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say to you , Except a man be born from above, he can not see the kingdom of God. ... That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you , You must be born again. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit". John 3:3-8, margin.
The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says, "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God". Ephesians 2:4-8.
The yeast hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process. So the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul. The natural inclinations are softened and controlled. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are developed.
A new standard of character is set up - the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the powers and talents are roused to action in new lines. Man is not endowed with new abilities, but the abilities he has are sanctified. The conscience is awakened. We are given traits of character that make us able to do service for God. [To find out how to do this click here.]
Often the question arises, Why, then, are there so many claiming to believe God's word, in whom there is not seen a decided change in words, in spirit, and in character?
Why are there so many who cannot bear to have opposition to their purposes and plans, who display an unholy temper, and whose words are harsh, overbearing, and violent? There is seen in their lives the same love of self, the same selfish indulgence, the same temper and hasty speech, that is seen in the life of the worldling. There is the same sensitive pride, the same giving way to natural inclination, the same twisted character, as if they had no idea of the truth.
The reason is that they are not converted, whatever they may say.
They have not hidden the leaven of truth in the heart. It has not had opportunity to do its work. Their natural and developed tendencies to evil have not been surrendered to its transforming power. Their lives show the absence of the grace of Christ, an unbelief in His power to transform the character.
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10:17.
The Scriptures are the means which God uses in the transformation of character. Christ prayed, "Sanctify them through Your truth; Your word is truth". John 17:17. If studied and obeyed, the word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute. The Holy Spirit comes to convict, or convince, of sin, and the faith that springs up in the heart works by love to Christ, changing us in body, soul, and spirit to be like Him. Then God can use us to do His will. The power given us works from within outwardly, leading us to pass on to others the truth that has been communicated to us.
The truths of the word of God meet man's great practical need - the conversion of the soul through faith. These grand principles are not to be thought too pure and holy to be brought into the daily life. They are truths which reach to heaven and into eternity, yet their vital influence is to be woven into human experience. They are to spread through all the great things and all the little things of life.
Received into the heart, the leaven of truth will regulate the desires, purify the thoughts, and give a wholesome attitude to life in general. It gives life to the abilities of the mind and the energies of the soul. It enlarges the capacity for feeling, for loving.
The world regards as a mystery the man who is filled with this principle. The selfish, money-loving man lives only to secure for himself the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world. He loses the eternal world from his reckoning. But with the follower of Christ these worldly things will not be all-absorbing. For Christ's sake he will labour and deny self, that he may aid in the great work of saving souls who are without Christ and without hope in the world. Such a man the world cannot understand for he is keeping in view eternal realities. The love of Christ with its power to buy back and restore has come into his heart. This love masters every other motive, and raises whoever has it above the corrupting influence of the world.
The word of God is to have a sanctifying effect on our association with every member of the human family. The leaven of truth will not produce the spirit of rivalry, the love of ambition, the desire to be first. True, heaven-born love is not selfish and changeable. It is not dependent on human praise. The heart of him who receives the grace of God overflows with love for God and for those for whom Christ died. Self is not struggling to be recognised.
He does not love others because they love and please him, or because they value his good points, but because they are Christ's purchased possession. If his motives, words, or actions are misunderstood or misrepresented, he is not offended, but pursues the even tenor of his way. He is kind and thoughtful, humble in his opinion of himself, yet full of hope, always trusting in the mercy and love of God.
The apostle exhorts us, "As He which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation [or conduct]; because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy". 1 Peter 1:15-16. The grace of Christ is to control the temper and the voice. Its working will be seen in the politeness and tender regard shown by brother for brother, in kind, encouraging words. An angel presence is in the home. The life breathes a sweet perfume, which ascends to God as holy incense. Love is shown in kindness, gentleness, self-control, and long-suffering.
The body language is changed. Christ abiding in the heart shines out in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The peace of heaven is revealed. There is expressed a habitual gentleness, a more than human love.
The leaven of truth works a change in the whole man, making the crude refined, the rough gentle, the selfish generous. By it the impure are cleansed, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Through its life-giving power it brings all there is of mind and soul and strength into harmony with the divine life. Man with his human nature is given a part of divinity. Christ is honoured in excellence and perfection of character. God and Christ rejoice over souls changed into Their image.
oooOooo
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God". Romans 10:17.
As our physical life is sustained by physical food,
so our spiritual life is sustained
by the word of God.
And every soul is to receive life from God’s word for himself.
As we must eat for ourselves in order
to receive nourishment,
so we must receive the word for ourselves.
We are not to obtain it through another person’s mind.
We should carefully study the Bible,
asking God for the aid of the Holy Spirit,
so that we may understand His word.
We should take one verse,
and concentrate on the task
of seeing the thought
which God has put in that verse for us.
We should then dwell upon the thought
until it becomes our own,
and we know "What saith the Lord".
Desire of Ages page 390
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