We are all familiar with the expression, "I deserved it," or "He deserved it." It may be a promotion or a raise in one's wages or whatever it might be. People judge the worth of a cause by its merits. We accept or reject ideas on account of their having merits or not. In financial matters, schemes, propositions, ideas and plans are rejected or approved according to their merits.

It is a very natural thing for human beings to treat matters or other human beings according to their merits. People "earn" merits through hard work, dedication, bravery, or through sacrificing whatever it might be. The more merits a person has earned, the more that person is worthy of notice, the more she is honored and the more she becomes the object of our admiration!

Now I ask you, were not the condescension and humiliation and the spotless life of the Son of God worth something? Was not His sacrificial death most worthy of our notice and admiration? Did not Christ, by His life and death, earn infinite merits? And would it not be fair to say that in the light of the infinite sacrifice that was made, all other merits should be held in abomination save those of Jesus?

But this is not all. Our Heavenly Father is not satisfied or pleased unless we appropriate them to ourselves! That's right! God the Father is not pleased unless we appropriate to ourselves the very merits that Christ earned by His infinite sacrifice! Why is that? So that we might be treated as Jesus deserves to be treated!

Behold what manner of love! God so loved the world!

Do we appreciate the atonement? It is a marvelous thing that by His death Jesus paid the ransom price for each one of us that we might be saved from eternal oblivion but is it not an even more marvelous thing that He should have been treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves? Is it not a marvelous thing that His merits should be placed upon the believing sinner and thus be elevated in the scales of moral value with God?

What manner of love is this? As we make it our lifebusiness to claim the merits of Christ, the Father then clothes us with the glistening vesture of Christ's righteousness and we become a member of the Royal Family, a member of the Household of God on a par with Jesus Himself!

As we lay hold, by faith, of the merits of the Lamb that was slain, God encircles us and loves us as He loves Jesus. That is the mystery which has been hidden from ages. The enemy is fighting against this all the time. He knows that this is the light that should burn brightly in the hearts of men to shine out in good works!

It has been said that not one in one hundred understands this Bible truth on this subject that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare! Rom.3:25; Col.1:20; Heb.10:19; Eph.1:7; 1 S.M.360.

"The only faith that will benefit us is that which appropriates His merits to ourselves." Our Father Cares, p.192. This is the hope that is set before us in the Scriptures! Heb.6:18.

Thank God for His unspeakable gift! 2 Cor.9:15.

[ April 24, 2002: Message edited by: adventbeliever ]

In the book Testimonies to Ministers, p.96,97, is stated, in a nutshell, the 1888 message:

"How long will you hate and despise the messengers of God's righteousness. God has given them His message. They bear the word of the Lord: There is salvation for you but only through the merits of Jesus Christ."

Notice how it says, "the messengers of God's righteousness," followed by these words: "There is salvation for you but only through the merits of Jesus Christ." Is not this the message of righteousness, the word of the Lord?

In order words, the people were invited to receive the righteousness that is in Christ--which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God--by trusting wholly in the merits of Jesus Christ. T.M.92.

"The efficacy of the blood of Christ was to be presented to the people with freshness and power that their faith might lay hold upon its merits." T.M.92.

"You cannot explain this faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior to bring Christ's righteousness into the life. Clothed with His righteousness and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do... for Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." F.W.65,66,27.

This is the message in a nutshell:

"The merits of Christ blot out transgressions and clothe us with the robe of His righteousness which is woven in the loom of Heaven." Evang.186.

Why can't we all accept this message as the third angel's message in verity and help scatter it like the leaves of autumn? It is a simple message and by accepting it we will be of one mind and one of accord and we will be greatly blessed!

What do you think?

"The merits of the blood of Christ the believers apply to their own hearts and they are greatly blessed." T.M.95.

Notice these words: "I must be a laborer with Him, I must take His yoke upon myself. I must teach others how to be lifted from the sinful state that I was in and to grasp by living faith the righteousness that is in Christ. That is the only way that the sinner can be saved." F.W.72.

Our work is to grasp by living faith the righteousness that is in Christ and to teach others to do the same because "that is the only way that the sinner can be saved." How? "To grasp by living faith the righteousness that is in Christ."

Now notice these words: "That living faith is essential for our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior... to bring Christ's righteousness into the life." F.W.64,65,66. "The Lord imparts all the powers, all the grace, all the penitence, all the inclination, all the pardon of sins, in presenting His righteousness for man to grasp by living faith--which is also the gift of God." Ibid, p.24.

From these statements, once again, it is made crystal clear what living faith is, how it brings the righteousness of Christ into the life! And this is the only way the sinner can be saved!

What do you think?

[ April 26, 2002: Message edited by: adventbeliever ]