Although as sinners we are under the condemnation of the law, yet Christ, by His obedience rendered to the law, claims for the repentant ...
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 human
beings are 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 humanity.{BLJ 382.2}
Who is desirous of becoming truly repentant? What must they do? They
must come to Jesus, just as they are, without delay. They must believe
that the word of Christ is true, and, believing the promise, ask, that
they may receive. When sincere desire prompts people 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. They will pray and watch, and put away their sins,
making manifest their sincerity by the vigor of their endeavor to obey
the commandments of God. With prayer they will mingle faith, and not
only believe in but obey the precepts of the law. They will announce
themselves as on Christ’s side of the question. They will renounce all
habits and associations that tend to draw the heart from God.
All sinners who would become children 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, they must put
forth an effort in harmony with the work done for them, and with
unwearied entreaty they must supplicate the throne of grace, that the
renovating power of God may come into their souls.
Christ pardons none but the penitent, but whom He pardons He first
makes pe
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 everyone 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” (Isaiah 61:10).—Selected Messages,
book 1, 393, 394.
By Pastor A Akhaine
Delta Conference
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