A loving message from Jesus to the Laodicean Church
 

Grace

 

The Straight Testimony website is all about God's GRACE, His marvelous saving grace , and His empowering, transforming grace.

In the Word of God we read: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:11-14

Grace is God's loving power extended to unworthy sinners, His power to transform our lives.

Transformation of character is to be the testimony to the world of the indwelling love of Christ. The Lord expects His people to show that the redeeming power of grace can work upon the faulty character and cause it to develop in symmetry and abundant fruitfulness. . . . {AG 238.4}

How do we receive God's powerful grace in our lives? "To make God's grace our own, we must act our part ." {RH, July 19, 1887 par. 20} What is our part ? That is what we propose to discover in this website.

The love and grace of God! Oh precious grace! more valuable than fine gold. It elevates and ennobles the spirit beyond all other principles. It sets the heart and affections upon Heaven. While those around us may be engaged in worldly vanity, pleasure-seeking, and folly, the conversation is in heaven, whence we look for the Saviour; the soul is reaching out after God for pardon and peace, for righteousness and true holiness. Converse with God and contemplation of things above transform the soul into the likeness of Christ. --Review and Herald, May 11, 1886. {MYP 84.2}

In the work of the gospel, we cannot separate faith and grace , for it is our faith that gives us access to His grace. "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2

God gives us the gift of faith, which, motivated by love, reaches up into His grace, and obtains His righteousness, His character. Thus, the term, Righteousness by Faith. It is His righteousness, and His faith, for it is the righteousness of Christ, and the faith of Christ. We are unworthy recipients of His gift of grace. But we do have a part, and that is to choose to be recipients. The work is all His, the cooperation is all ours.

The Lord Jesus is our strength and happiness, the great storehouse from which, on every occasion, men may draw strength. As we study Him, talk of Him, become more and more able to behold Him--as we avail ourselves of His grace and receive the blessings He proffers us, we have something with which to help others. Filled with gratitude, we communicate to others the blessings that have been freely given us. Thus receiving and imparting, we grow in grace ; and a rich current of praise and gratitude constantly flows from our lips; the sweet spirit of Jesus kindles thanksgiving in our hearts, and our souls are uplifted with a sense of security. The unfailing, inexhaustible righteousness of Christ becomes our righteousness by faith . {ML 171.4}

Righteousness by faith is the theme of this website.

The message of righteousness by faith is a precious message. "The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, seemed a precious thought." {RH, September 3, 1889 par. 12} This is the only way to salvation.

But Satan hates this message and has been furiously endeavoring to confuse us as to its meaning. He doesn't care which extreme we take it to, as long as we miss the mark. "The enemy of man and God is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken." {RH, September 3, 1889 par. 13}

It is by a faith connection that we are able to grasp a hold of the merits of Christ. "That living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour, on Christ, our righteousness." {FW 64.1}

It is this close, dependent faith connection that we need to experience personally and individually. Without it, we have no hope.

Jesus died as a sacrifice for man because the fallen race can do nothing to recommend themselves to God. The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith. The dependence of the soul upon Christ is as real, and its connection with him must be as close, as that of a limb to the body, or of a branch to the vine. {GC88 72.3}

It is the righteousness and perfection of his Son, who takes upon himself our sins, our defects, our weaknesses, which God accepts; and through faith in the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour we are prisoners of hope. Christ's righteousness becomes our righteousness, if we sustain a living connection with him . Then we cease to transgress the holy law of God, and become partakers of the divine nature. {RH, December 18, 1888 par. 5}

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THIS MESSAGE! Jesus is coming soon! Probation is about to close. A shaking is coming. We have no time to lose. We must know by experience what is Righteousness by Faith . We must heed The Straight Testimony .

Man can do nothing to merit the favor of Heaven. That which avails for the sinner is to accept gladly the sacrifice which Christ has made, and appreciate his love, laying hold of his righteousness by faith . He loves you; and when you love him because he first loved you, you will feel that every power of soul and body belongs to him. Take his free gift to you, and then give yourself freely to him; and the power of God will come upon you. {BEcho, February 15, 1892 par. 5}

Believing in Jesus as his personal Saviour, accepting of his righteousness by faith , the sinner becomes a partaker of the divine nature, and escapes the corruption that is in the world through lust. It is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that the Christian is enabled to resist temptation and to work righteousness. Without the divine nature, without the influence of the Spirit of God, man cannot work out his own salvation; for God must work in him to will and to do of his good pleasure. Christ has said, "Without Me ye can do nothing." {Messenger, April 26, 1893 par. 4}

The Bible truths of justification and righteousness by faith have been set before large numbers of people. Some have been animated and delighted with the truth for a short time, but they do not appropriate the truth, and their minds and hearts are not purified from their sins. They do not cultivate an abiding faith, nor drink the rich and living draught placed to their lips, and they soon lose the impression made upon their hearts. {6MR 202.3}

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. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth. If any man can merit salvation by anything he may do, then he is in the same position as the Catholic to do penance for his sins. Salvation, then, is partly of debt that may be earned as wages. If man cannot, by any of his good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace , received by man as a sinner because he receives and believes in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift. Justification by faith is placed beyond controversy. And all this controversy is ended, as soon as the matter is settled that the merits of fallen man in his good works can never procure eternal life for him.--Ms 36, 1890, pp. 2, 3. ("Danger of False Ideas on Justification by Faith," undated.) {3MR 420.3}

What are we to do with this precious truth?

Shall we not seek to arouse the sluggish sensibilities of those who know the truth, and impress upon them their duty to practice it themselves, and to teach it to those who know it not. {6MR 203.1}

Are we sluggish, are we lethargic, lukewarm? If we are honest, we must admit that we are. That is why God' people need The Straight Testimony!

 

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Laodicean

Message

Revelation 3

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.