Amen Pastor Sean! Again and again when we read this paragraph we understand how successful Satan has been working within God's church. Shortly after its formation the church began to backslide. The leadership of the church in 1888 rejected the gospel message. It was then rare to find one who was truly converted. It has not gotten better in the last hundred years. But, God is pouring out His Spirit upon His church today. It will soon see revival and reformation. This paragraph in today's reading is simple enough that a child may understand the truth. Yet, ordained ministers fight against this truth every day. We praise God for making the foundation of His truth so very plain. We pray that all who read this thread will be given an extra measure of the Holy Spirit that the deception might be unveiled. Let's take a close look at what is being said, in context.
The law requires righteousness,--a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God's holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men.
This is the predominate teaching within God's church today. This is what they teach happens in the investigative judgment. Christ is our advocate and His character stands in place of our character as long as we believe. It is the substitution of Christ that saves us if we accept Him and are baptized and pay tithe. What is wrong with this false doctrine? It is true that we cannot meet this standard, but not in the way we are being taught. What is true and what is not?
If we read the rest of the paragraph, it is explained, but how many times have you had an ordained pastor or elder share the whole truth? I have never heard it preached from the pulpit in the 35 years I have been in the church. Pastor Sean has shared it properly and I am sure he has preached it in his churches. And, I am sure somewhere in the world there are others who understand and are preaching it. When you hear it, or read it, please make a note and share it in this thread. We want to know who is teaching the truth.
What is the important truth that has been set aside? Let's read it again.
The law requires righteousness,--a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God's holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men.................(AND)
Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
In other words, we cannot atone for past sins, no matter how obedient we are and how righteous (holy) we are now. Thus, when we surrender the whole heart to Jesus, we are forgiven past confessed and forsaken sins. He is our substitute in this matter. If we stop here we then reveal we do not understand the great deception and play into the hands of the great deceiver. So, let us continue.
He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty.
Is this "imputed righteousness"? No, it is "imparted righteousness." You are holy because God has imparted His righteousness (character) to you, and the fruit given to you is full, nothing is missing. Does this mean we cannot grow? No. The fruit while all is there, will become more abundant. As long as you remain fully surrendered to God, you will become more patient and more loving. It is important to understand that when abiding in Christ and He in you through the Holy Spirit, you reflect the character of God, a "human character after the similitude of the divine character."
Do we misunderstand? Let us continue in the statement.
Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ.
This is the character that man does not have until born again of the Spirit. Thus, past confessed and forsaken sins which we cannot atone for are forgiven and our character is transformed when the heart is wholly given to Christ. Then we meet the standard required in order to obtain eternal life. We must maintain our whole heart surrender in order to retain our justified standing before God. Let's continue our study by reading in context the paragraph.
God can "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Romans 3:26.
Substitution is not good enough, we must be transformed in addition to obtaining the imputed righteousness of Christ, we must obtain the imparted righteousness also. It is His character standing in place of our "past" sins and His character imparted to us, giving us power to keep His law perfectly. In context now:
By beholding His character he might be drawn back to God.
Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested to men; but mercy does not set aside justice. The law reveals the attributes of God's character, and not a jot or tittle of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for man's redemption. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19.
The law requires righteousness,--a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God's holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Romans 3:26.
God's love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His love. It had been Satan's purpose to divorce mercy from truth and justice. He sought to prove that the righteousness of God's law is an enemy to peace. But Christ shows that in God's plan they are indissolubly joined together; the one cannot exist without the other. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10.
By His life and His death, Christ proved that God's justice did not destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan's charges were refuted. God had given man unmistakable evidence of His love.
Not only can fallen man keep God's law perfectly, it is a requirement in order to enter heaven. It is not earned salvation, but grace that empowers man to keep the law. We cannot in and of ourselves keep the law. We are evil by nature and need to be born again and become partakers of God's divine nature in order to any good thing. I am not preaching to the choir, they are already teaching the truth as it is in Jesus. I am hopefully presenting here what we see throughout this website for the last 20 years, to those who are reading who have not understood. May God grant all spiritual eyesight to see the loveliness of Jesus that transforms sinners into saints.
And, yes, it is a great miracle! To think that the worst of humanity can become holy!! That I, the chief of sinners can reflect the loveliness of Jesus! Miracle of all miracles!! Grace is more than a word, it is the power that transforms the life.
