Salvation Assured RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH RELATIONSHIP
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. Phil. 3:10.
It came as a surprise to some of us to discover that the certainty and assurance of our eternal life is based upon being in relationship with Christ. That's why the question "Do you know Him?" is an important question. It's not a question of knowing about Him, but of knowing Him.
Romans 5 talks about the gift of righteousness. If we accept His gift today but don't stay with Him, then what happens to the gift? "No human being is righteous any longer than he has faith in God and maintains a vital connection with Him."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 367. If God casts all our sins into the depths of the sea today, but between now and the time that Jesus comes we turn from Him, is He going to drag them up from the depths of the sea? Is His righteousness going to be taken back? And what about this statement from Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing: " 'In His borrowed goodness good,' we may be perfect in our sphere, even as God is perfect in His"?--Page 77. Is His righteousness borrowed? Is it a gift? Or is it a trade? Which is it? Is it permanent or not?
I'd like to illustrate like this: Suppose I have a Cadillac Seville. But I'm single. And I would like to have someone nice to ride around in my Cadillac with me. This gets a little tricky, because how can I tell whether the young lady is interested in me or in my car? But finally one day I am convinced that a certain young lady likes me as much as she likes my Cadillac and she accepts my proposal. The day we are married, not only does she get me, but she gets the Cadillac as well. It comes with me. (Now don't confuse me with the marriage laws of your State. I have my own today.) Hopefully when she chooses me, she chooses me permanently. As long as she continues to choose me, she has the Cadillac. But if she ever chooses to separate from me, and no longer continue the relationship, no longer does she have the Cadillac.
Righteousness is never independent of Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as righteousness apart from Jesus.
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. Phil. 3:10.
It came as a surprise to some of us to discover that the certainty and assurance of our eternal life is based upon being in relationship with Christ. That's why the question "Do you know Him?" is an important question. It's not a question of knowing about Him, but of knowing Him.
Romans 5 talks about the gift of righteousness. If we accept His gift today but don't stay with Him, then what happens to the gift? "No human being is righteous any longer than he has faith in God and maintains a vital connection with Him."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 367. If God casts all our sins into the depths of the sea today, but between now and the time that Jesus comes we turn from Him, is He going to drag them up from the depths of the sea? Is His righteousness going to be taken back? And what about this statement from Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing: " 'In His borrowed goodness good,' we may be perfect in our sphere, even as God is perfect in His"?--Page 77. Is His righteousness borrowed? Is it a gift? Or is it a trade? Which is it? Is it permanent or not?
I'd like to illustrate like this: Suppose I have a Cadillac Seville. But I'm single. And I would like to have someone nice to ride around in my Cadillac with me. This gets a little tricky, because how can I tell whether the young lady is interested in me or in my car? But finally one day I am convinced that a certain young lady likes me as much as she likes my Cadillac and she accepts my proposal. The day we are married, not only does she get me, but she gets the Cadillac as well. It comes with me. (Now don't confuse me with the marriage laws of your State. I have my own today.) Hopefully when she chooses me, she chooses me permanently. As long as she continues to choose me, she has the Cadillac. But if she ever chooses to separate from me, and no longer continue the relationship, no longer does she have the Cadillac.
Righteousness is never independent of Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as righteousness apart from Jesus.
RSS Feed
