Chapter Two - How to be a born-again Christian
Faith--belief and trust
When God pardons the sinner, remits the punishment he deserves,
and treats him as though he had not sinned, He receives him into divine
favor, and justifies him through the merits of Christ's righteousness.
The sinner can be justified only through faith in the atonement made through
God's dear Son, who became a sacrifice for the sins of the guilty world.
No one can be justified by any works of his own. He can be delivered from
the guilt of sin, from the condemnation of the law, from the penalty of
transgression, only by virtue of the suffering, death, and resurrection
of Christ. Faith is the only condition upon which justification can be
obtained, and faith includes not only belief but trust. . . .
Many concede that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world,
but at the same time they hold themselves away from Him, and fail to repent
of their sins, fail to accept of Jesus as their personal Saviour. Their
faith is simply the assent of the mind and judgment to the truth; but the
truth is not brought into the heart, that it might sanctify the soul and
transform the character. . . .
Can I repent without help?
Many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps
in the work of salvation. Repentance is thought to be a work the sinner
must do for himself in order that he may come to Christ. They think that
the sinner must procure for himself a fitness in order to obtain the blessing
of God's grace. But while it is true that repentance must precede forgiveness,
for it is only the broken and contrite heart that is acceptable to God,
yet the sinner cannot bring himself to repentance, or prepare himself to
come to Christ. Except the sinner repent, he cannot be forgiven; but the
question to be decided is as to whether repentance is the work of the sinner
or the gift of Christ. Must the sinner wait until he is filled with remorse
for his sin before he can come to Christ? The very first step to Christ
is taken through the drawing of the Spirit of God; as man responds to this
drawing, he advances toward Christ in order that he may repent.
The sinner is represented as a lost sheep, and a lost
sheep never returns to the fold unless he is sought after and brought back
to the fold by the shepherd. No man of himself can repent, and make himself
worthy of the blessing of justification. The Lord Jesus is constantly seeking
to impress the sinner's mind and attract him to behold Himself, the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. We cannot take a step
toward spiritual life save as Jesus draws and strengthens the soul, and
leads us to experience that repentance which needeth not to be repented
of. . . .
When before the high priests and Sadducees, Peter clearly
presented the fact that repentance is the gift of God. Speaking of Christ,
he said, "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a
Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins" (Acts
5:31). Repentance is no less the gift of God than are pardon and justification,
and it cannot be experienced except as it is given to the soul by Christ.
If we are drawn to Christ, it is through His power and virtue. The grace
of contrition comes through Him, and from Him comes justification. . .
.
Faith is more than talk
The faith that is unto salvation is not a casual faith, it
is not the mere consent of the intellect, it is belief rooted in the heart,
that embraces Christ as a personal Saviour, assured that He can save unto
the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. To believe that He will save
others, but
will not save you is not genuine faith; but when the soul lays
hold upon Christ as the only hope of salvation, then genuine faith is manifested.
This faith leads its possessor to place all the affections of the soul
upon Christ; his understanding is under the control of the Holy Spirit,
and his character is molded after the divine likeness. His faith is not
a dead faith, but a faith that works by love, and leads him to behold the
beauty of Christ, and to become assimilated to the divine character. .
. .
The whole work is the Lord's from the beginning to the
end. The perishing sinner may say: "I am a lost sinner; but Christ came
to seek and to save that which was lost. He says, 'I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance' (Mark 2:17). I am a sinner, and He
died upon Calvary's cross to save me. I need not remain a moment longer
unsaved. He died and rose again for my justification, and He will save
me now. I accept the forgiveness He has promised." {NL 22.2}
Righteous in Him
Christ is a risen Saviour; for, though He was dead, He has
risen again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. We are to believe
with the heart unto righteousness, and with the mouth make confession unto
salvation. Those who are justified by faith will make confession of Christ.
"He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting
life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto
life" (John 5:24). The great work that is wrought for the sinner who is
spotted and stained by evil is the work of justification. By Him who speaketh
truth he is declared righteous. The Lord imputes unto the believer the
righteousness of Christ and pronounces him righteous before the universe.
He transfers his sins to Jesus, the sinner's representative, substitute,
and surety. Upon Christ He lays the iniquity of every soul that believeth.
"He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).
Christ made satisfaction for the guilt of the whole world,
and all who will come to God in faith, will receive the righteousness of
Christ, "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes
ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Our sin has been expiated, put away, cast
into the depths of the sea. Through repentance and faith we are rid of
sin, and look unto the Lord our righteousness. Jesus suffered, the just
for the unjust.
What repentance is
Although as sinners we are under the condemnation of the
law, yet Christ by His obedience rendered to the law, claims for the repentant
soul the merit of His own righteousness. In order to obtain the righteousness
of Christ, it is necessary for the sinner to know what that repentance
is which works a radical change of mind and spirit and action. The work
of transformation must begin in the heart, and manifest its power through
every faculty of the being; but man is not capable of originating such
a repentance as this, and can experience it alone through Christ, who ascended
up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Who wants to repent?
Who is desirous of becoming truly repentant? What must he
do? He must come to Jesus, just as he is, without delay. He must believe
that the word of Christ is true, and, believing the promise, ask, that
he may receive. When sincere desire prompts men to pray, they will not
pray in vain. The Lord will fulfill His word, and will give the Holy Spirit
to lead to repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will pray and watch, and put away his sins, making manifest his sincerity
by the vigor of his endeavor to obey the commandments of God. With prayer
he will mingle faith, and not only believe in but obey the precepts of
the law. He will announce himself as on Christ's side of the question.
He will renounce all habits and associations that tend to draw the heart
from God. {NL 24.1}
He who would become a child of God must receive the truth
that repentance and forgiveness are to be obtained through nothing less
than the atonement of Christ. Assured of this the sinner must put forth
an effort in harmony with the work done for him, and with unwearied entreaty
he must supplicate the throne of grace, that the renovating power of God
may come into his soul. Christ pardons none but the penitent, but whom
He pardons He first makes penitent. The provision made is complete, and
the eternal righteousness of Christ is placed to the account of every believing
soul. The costly, spotless robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has been
provided for the repenting, believing sinner, and he may say: "I will greatly
rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed
me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness" (Isa. 61:10).
Amazing grace
Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul
may be kept free from sin; for all heaven, with its limitless resources,
has been placed at our command. We are to draw from the well of salvation.
Christ is the end of law for righteousness to everyone who believeth. In
ourselves we are sinners; but in Christ we are righteous. Having made us
righteous through the imputed righteousness of Christ, God pronounces us
just, and treats us as just. He looks upon us as His dear children. Christ
works against the power of sin, and where sin abounded, grace much more
abounds. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1, 2).
{NL 25.1}
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this
time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him
which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:24-26). "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). [John
1:14-16 quoted
Fit to be saved
The Lord would have His people sound in the faith--not ignorant
of the great salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are not to
look forward, thinking that at some future time a great work is to be done
for them; for the work is now complete. The believer is not called upon
to make his peace with God; he never has nor ever can do this. He is to
accept Christ as his peace, for with Christ is God and peace. Christ made
an end of sin, bearing its heavy curse in His own body on the tree, and
He hath taken away the curse from all those who believe in Him as a personal
Saviour. He makes an end of the controlling power of sin in the heart,
and the life and character of the believer testify to the genuine character
of the grace of Christ.
To those that ask Him, Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit;
for it is necessary that every believer should be delivered from pollution,
as well as from the curse and condemnation of the law. Through the work
of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer becomes
fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His righteousness
is upon us. Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We would not
enjoy heaven unless qualified for its holy atmosphere by the influence
of the Spirit and the righteousness of Christ.
In order to be candidates for heaven we must meet the
requirement of the law: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). We can do this only as
we grasp by faith the righteousness of Christ. By beholding Jesus we receive
a living, expanding principle in the heart, and the Holy Spirit carries
on the work, and the believer advances from grace to grace, from strength
to strength, from character to character. He conforms to the image of Christ,
until in spiritual growth he attains unto the measure of the full stature
in Christ Jesus. Thus Christ makes an end of the curse of sin, and sets
the believing soul free from its action and effect.
Is there anything between me and God?
Christ alone is able to do this, for "in all things it behoved
Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation
for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being
tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb. 2:17, 18).
Reconciliation means that every barrier between the soul and God is removed,
and that the sinner realizes what the pardoning love of God means. By reason
of the sacrifice made by Christ for fallen men, God can justly pardon the
transgressor who accepts the merits of Christ. Christ was the channel through
which the mercy, love, and righteousness might flow from the heart of God
to the heart of the sinner. "He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). . . .
Every soul may say: "By His perfect obedience He has satisfied
the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my
substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in
His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with
His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete
in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me to God in
the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent. All
is of Christ, and all the glory, honor, and majesty are to be given to
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."
Many think that they must wait for a special impulse in
order that they may come to Christ; but it is necessary only to come in
sincerity of purpose, deciding to accept the offers of mercy and grace
that have been extended to us. We are to say: "Christ died to save me.
The Lord's desire is that I should be saved, and I will come to Jesus just
as I am without delay. I will venture upon the promise. As Christ draws
me, I will respond." The apostle says, "With the heart man believeth unto
righteousness" (Rom. 10:10). No one can believe with the heart unto righteousness,
and obtain justification by faith, while continuing the practice of those
things which the Word of God forbids, or while neglecting any known duty.
Good works the fruit of faith
Genuine faith will be manifested in good works; for good
works are the fruits of faith. As God works in the heart, and man surrenders
his will to God, and cooperates with God, he works out in the life what
God works in by the Holy Spirit, and there is harmony between the purpose
of the heart and the practice of the life. Every sin must be renounced
as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and glory, and the
believer must have a progressive experience by continually doing the works
of Christ. It is by continual surrender of the will, by continual obedience,
that the blessing of justification is retained.
Those who are justified by faith must have a heart to
keep the way of the Lord. It is an evidence that a man is not justified
by faith when his works do not correspond to his profession. James says,
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was his faith
made perfect?" (James 2:22).
The faith that does not produce good works does not justify
the soul. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by
faith only" (James 2:24). "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto
him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). . . .
In His steps
Where faith is, good works appear. The sick are visited,
the poor are cared for, the fatherless and the widows are not neglected,
the naked are clothed, the destitute are fed. Christ went about doing good,
and when men are united with Him, they love the children of God, and meekness
and truth guide their footsteps. The expression of the countenance reveals
their experience, and men take knowledge of them that they have been with
Jesus and learned of Him. Christ and the believer become one, and His beauty
of character is revealed in those who are vitally connected with the Source
of power and love. Christ is the great depositary of justifying righteousness
and sanctifying grace.
All may come to Him, and receive of His fullness. He says,
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Then why not cast aside all unbelief and heed
the words of Jesus? You want rest; you long for peace. Then say from the
heart, "Lord Jesus, I come, because Thou hast given me this invitation."
Believe in Him with steadfast faith, and He will save you. Have you been
looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith? Have
you been beholding Him who is full of truth and grace? Have you accepted
the peace which Christ alone can give? If you have not, then yield to Him,
and through His grace seek for a character that will be noble and elevated.
Seek for a constant, resolute, cheerful spirit. Feed on Christ, who is
the bread of life, and you will manifest His loveliness of character and
spirit. [SELECTED MESSAGES, BOOK 1, PP. 389-398.]
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Source: EGW Website