Righteousness by Faith

The Robe of Christ's Righteousness

By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. {COL 311.4}

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God's presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. "I counsel thee," He says, "to buy of Me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear." Revelation 3:18. {COL 311.3}

This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God "was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." Sin is defined to be "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:5, 4. {COL 311.4}

By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ's true followers will possess. To the church it is given "that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white," "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. The fine linen, says the Scripture, "is the righteousness of saints." Revelation 19:8. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour. {COL 310.3}

The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. All the strength of their affections was given to their heavenly Father. A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair. This robe of light was a symbol of their spiritual garments of heavenly innocence. Had they remained true to God it would ever have continued to enshroud them. {COL 310.4}

Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine. {COL 312.2}

It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. "He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." "Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments." 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness. {COL 312.3}

No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven. {DA 555.6}

Righteousness By Faith Is Obedience By Faith

Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine. {COL 312.2}

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}

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6. {SD 304.1}

Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God; and "God is love." It is conformity to the law of God; for "all thy commandments are righteousness;" and "love is the fulfilling of the law." Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him. {SD 304.2}

The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of heart and life to the revealed will of God. Sinful men can become righteous only as they have faith in God and maintain a vital connection with Him. Then true godliness will elevate the thoughts and ennoble the life. Then the external forms of religion accord with the Christian's internal purity. Then the ceremonies required in the service of God are not meaningless rites, like those of the hypocritical Pharisees. {DA 310.1}

Obedience by Faith Is Righteousness by Faith.--When we bring our lives to complete obedience to the law of God, regarding God as our supreme Guide, and clinging to Christ as our hope of righteousness, God will work in our behalf. This is a righteousness of faith, a righteousness hidden in a mystery of which the worldling knows nothing, and which he cannot understand. Sophistry and strife follow in the train of the serpent; but the commandments of God diligently studied and practiced, open to us communication with heaven, and distinguish for us the true from the false. This obedience works out for us the divine will, bringing into our lives the righteousness and perfection that was seen in the life of Christ (MS 43, 1907). {1BC 1118.4}

In many cases the Testimonies are fully received, the sin and indulgence broken off, and reformation at once commences in harmony with the light God has given. In other instances sinful indulgences are cherished, the Testimonies are rejected, and many excuses which are untrue are offered to others as the reason for refusing to receive them. The true reason is not given. It is a lack of moral courage -- a will, strengthened and controlled by the Spirit of God, to renounce hurtful habits. {4T 32.1}

Quotations on CHARACTER

Of a great man Carlyle said: “His words were bullets, His character was the power that drove them”

Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it. - John Ludnock

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think. – Emerson

Character, the keystone of life. - A.B. Zu Tavern

Character is like every other structure, its weaknesses show up when it is tested. No man knows of what stuff he is made until prosperity and ease tries him. - A. P. Couthet

Character equals the sum of traits and habits that make up a person’s mental and moral being.

Not education, but character, is man’s greatest need and man’s greatest safeguard. – Herbert Spencer

When the late J. P. Morgan was asked what he considered the best bank collateral, he replied, “Character”

Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takesresponsibility for it, makes it his own… Difficulty attracts the man of character because it is in embracing it that he realizes himself.

- Charles De Caulle

There is a greater demand today for people of character than at any time in the history of America. Industry, Intelligence, imagination, and persistence are great gold mines. - Rocker Narson

Let us not say, every man is the architect of his own fortune; but let us say, every man is the architect of his own character.

– G. D. Boardman

It is with trifles, and when he is off guard, that a man best reveals his character. - Schopenhauer

Intellect weighs as light as down against the gold of character. - A. P. Couthey

You don’t make your character in a circle; you exhibit it. - Oren Arnold

One of the most important lessons that experience teaches is that, on the whole, success depends more upon character than upon intellect or fortune. - William Lecet

Character, true, sterling, Christian character is in itself success. Without it even the millionaire is a failure. – H. F. Klateeng

Each individual must develop his own character. - A. B. Zu Tavern

Character is the keystone of life. Character means the quality of the stuff of which anything is made. We can learn from others what is needed for character, but the actual carving we must do ourselves. - John Lubnock

Open confession helps build character. - A. B. Zu Tavern

Talent is nurtured in solitude; character is formed in the stormy billows of the world. - Cokter

By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character. - Crenville Klener

Nature grows trees, but it does not deliver the trees to us in finished furniture. We are the master-builders of character, it is up to us to do the building.

A man’s own manner and character is what becomes him. - Cicero

Enduring character is not built with inferior materials. - Roger Baroon

Character is moulded not by ease and exctement, but by drudgery. - A. P. Couthey

A noble character cannot be developed under the shadow of a low sordid aim. The ideal must be high, the purpose strong, worthy, and true, or the life will be a failure. - O. S Marden

Character is a by-product, it is produced in the great manufacture of daily duty. - Woodrow Wilson

Character building – the task of a lifetime – demands the richest spiritual materials, faith, courage, humility, integrity, magnanimity, nobility, self-abnegation. Wealth, influence, position, power – these are of little value without character. Grandeur of character is moral principle in practice. - Crenville Klener

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.