RC 309
The longest chain is composed of separate links. If one of these links is faulty, the chain is worthless. Thus it is with character. A well-balanced character is formed by single acts well performed. One defect, cultivated instead of being overcome, makes the man imperfect, and closes against him the gate of the Holy City. He who enters heaven must have a character that is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Naught that defileth can ever enter there. In all the redeemed host not one defect will be seen. {RC 309.6}

1 SM 373, 374
The Lord requires no less of the soul now, than He required of Adam in Paradise before he fell-- perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness. The requirement of God under the covenant of grace is just as broad as the requirement He made in Paradise--harmony with His law, which is holy, and just, and good. The gospel does not weaken the claims of the law; it exalts the law and makes it honorable. Under the New Testament, no less is required than was required under the Old Testament. Let no one take up with the delusion so pleasant to the natural heart, that God will accept of sincerity, no matter what may be the faith, no matter how imperfect may be the life. God requires of His child perfect obedience. {1SM 373.1}

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. (Rom. 1:16)

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Cor 2:2)

It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him. They behold the Saviour's matchless love, revealed throughout His pilgrimage on earth, from the manger of Bethlehem to Calvary's cross, and the sight of Him attracts, it softens and subdues the soul. Love awakens in the heart of the beholders. They hear His voice, and they follow Him. (DA 480)

We must gather about the cross. Christ and Him crucified must be the theme of contemplation, of conversation, and of our most joyful emotion. We should have these special appointments for the purpose of keeping fresh in our thoughts everything which we receive from God, and of expressing our gratitude for His great love, and our willingness to trust everything to the hand that was nailed to the cross for us. We should learn here to talk the language of Canaan, to sing the songs of Zion. By the mystery and glory of the cross we can estimate the value of man, and then we shall see and feel the importance of working for our fellow men, that they may be exalted to the throne of God. (4T 462)

Tom, do you see a conflict, a contradiction, between the quotes I posted and the ones you posted? If not, then please explain how they agree and compliment one another. Thank you. I perceive a cause and effect relationship between them.

"The conditions of eternal life, under grace, are just what they were in Eden--perfect righteousness, harmony with God, perfect conformity to the principles of His law. The standard of character presented in the Old Testament is the same that is presented in the New Testament. This standard is not one to which we cannot attain. In every command or injunction that God gives there is a promise, the most positive, underlying the command. God has made provision that we may become like unto Him, and He will accomplish this for all who do not interpose a perverse will and thus frustrate His grace." MB 76

This quote gives both the requirement and the condition. The requirement is perfection, which is being like Christ, or, synonomously, being in perfect harmony with God's law. The condition is that we not iterpose a perverse will and thus frustrate God's grace.

Amen! But when? When is this condition a reality in the life of a born again believer? I'm not talking about in the legal sense (which is important too), but in the real sense. Most people seem to think it happens gradually, after years and years of sinning less and less.

SC 62, 63
The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,--just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,--perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized. {SC 62.1}

It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. {SC 62.2}

More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. So you may say, "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. So Jesus said to His disciples, "It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew 10:20. Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works -- works of righteousness, obedience. {SC 62.3}

Think about it.

Christ's character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

More than this . . .

. . . with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works -- works of righteousness, obedience.

But if everybody is justified, as if they have never sinned, what is God waiting for? And what distinquishes the sinners from the saints? the lost from the saved?

God's graciously treating people as if they haven't sinned by virtue of the gift of Christ in their behalf does not change their character if they resist His grace. God is waiting for a people to reproduce His character. What distinguishes sinners from saints is their character. Same for lost and saved. The lost are rebels and choose to refuse heaven ("their exclusion is voluntary with themselves"). The saved admire God for who He is and choose to spend eternity with Him.

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Remove quote of previous post. - Daryl

[ October 25, 2004, 05:25 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Here's what makes sense to me. Jesus made salvation and justification available when He lived and died the perfect life and death and ascended to the heavenly sanctuary to mediate on behalf of those who accept Jesus as their personal Saviour. Only those who overcome sin and reproduce the character of Christ are justified and saved.

God is waiting for His church to experience the righteousness of Christ and to proclaim the 3AMs to a desperate and dying world. Only the truth can set us free. Any idea, therefore, that puts off crucifying any one of our defective traits of character in the future, instead of now and today, frustrates the grace of God and delays the return of Christ.