In 1888, an important SDA conference was held in Minneapolis, which discussed righteousness by faith. The real issue at the heart of the question is how are we saved, and how does Law and the Gospel rightly combined for salvation?
The most famous Bible verse about righteousness by faith is Romans 1:17, and it combines the Law and the gospel.
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to anti faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith" − Romans 1:17.
Here is the righteousness by faith from the Old and New Testaments. Paul references Habakkuk 2:4, which states that the just shall live by faith. The ‘just’ here means those who keep the Law, and it states they will gain their salvation and live because of their faith. This is the everlasting gospel where God writes His Laws in our hearts and minds because of our trusting faith in Him.
How did the messengers who brought the 1888 Minneapolis message of Righteousness by Faith view the correct meaning of this text?
1/ E.J. Waggoner
Saw in it works performed by faith: "Here we have Righteousness by Faith: `The just shall live by faith.' Nothing else? By faith and works? `Add not thou unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be a liar.' To be just is to be righteous, and a righteous man will do righteous acts. This is the fruit of righteousness. But how does he do these works? -By Faith."-E.J. Waggoner, Bible Studies on the Book of Romans, p1.
2/ A.T. Jones
Saw it is an experience of receiving the Personal Presence of Christ into the heart and the life: "When the personal presence of Christ comes to us, He will be closer to us than if He would come in here to these meetings with us every day. Is that so? (Congregation: `Yes, sir.) Well then, that is the gospel, is it not? That is the Righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ. That is the gospel, `for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.” (Romans 1:17)."- A.T. Jones, General Conference Daily Bulletin, 1893, page 301.
3/ Ellen White
Agreed with these messages of Jones and Waggoner − seeing it is faith that works, and it is done in Christ, through His imputed and imparted grace, and by the indwelling Holy Spirit within us:
"The Righteousness of Christ is revealed from Faith to Faith, that is from your present Faith to an increased understanding of that Faith which works by love and purifies the soul. - I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek for therein is the Righteousness of God revealed from Faith to Faith. When Christ imparts to any the blessing of His grace, He lays the recipients under special obligation."-Review, September 17, 1908. Bible Commentary, volume 6, page 1067.
“The Spirit of God works in the believer's soul, enabling him to advance from one line of obedience to another, reaching on from strength to greater strength, from grace to grace in Jesus Christ.” - E. G. W., Selected Messages, volume 1, page 375.
"When we bring our lives into 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. 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.“ - E.G.W., Sons and Daughters of God, page 66.
"The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.” − Review, June 4, 1895, Messages to Young People, page 35.
“Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience... Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ.“ - Acts of the Apostles 560
The Third Angel’s Message
The Third Angel’s message of Revelation 14 is righteousness by faith in verity. Here is represented a group of people who gain in their faith the biblical balance of the Law and the Gospel just before Christ’s return:
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
This is the climax of the Bible. This is the declaration of victory. For six thousand years, heaven has been working to restore humanity to living in connection with God. The forces of evil have been working tirelessly against these efforts. In this war described in the great central chapters of Revelation 12, 13, and 14, the despairing question had been asked: Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? Revelation 13:4.
At the time of Revelation 14:12, just before the return of Christ, all people have made their decision for or against God’s righteousness by faith. Many choose to forgo the traditions and decrees of men for the Commandments of God. Then Christ will return and take His people to heaven.
There are very different versions of righteousness by faith in the world. Some emphasise works and others emphasise grace. It is important that we all realise that the Law and Grace are inseparable in the Bible’s version of Righteousness by Faith, and that this is evident in both the Old and New Testaments.
Below are seven characteristics of the Bible’s very particular righteousness by faith, which was the latter rain sprinkling in 1888, and it is to now rise in volume in the outpouring of the Spirit without measure and the loud cry of the Fourth Angel’s message of Revelation 18:1-4, which will inspire and light up the entire world.
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.”
Seven Characteristics of the Bible’s Righteousness by Faith
Loving – It leads us to grow in our love for Jesus and to love one another.
Joyful – It is joyful, and this joyous, loving connection with Jesus has grown to the extent that it is easier and more preferable for us not to sin.
Surrendered – It guides us into an increasingly loving relationship with Jesus, resulting in distinct choices made according to His leading through His Word. The hearts and lives are completely surrendered.
Repentance – It calls us to confess and repent from all of our sins; repentance means to turn the mind. Our faith has grown through our diligent seeking of God, leading to complete confidence in the promise that we have been cleansed and forgiven of all our confessed sins. This cleansing includes that of our soul temple through important health reforms.
Complete Righteousness – It is distinctly different to the partial righteousness by faith most commonly taught. Justification literally means to do rightly. Not to imagine we are covered by Christ if we continue to transgress. But it includes sanctification, the emptying of self and the presence of Christ.
Bigger Belief – It is Christ-centred confidence in forgiveness, and Christ-centred consistency in obedience to all the Commandments of God – faith in both imputed and imparted grace. It has a complete faith in the power of Christ to sanctify us now, without which we have not the faith necessary to enter heaven.
Continuous Connection – It focuses attention firmly and continuously on Jesus Christ, which strengthens us to overcome temptations and to share His Way with others.
Instructions for the Final Crisis
The final instruction to His disciples before the cross, and His final instructions to us now in Revelation 16:15 have similarities:
“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
Who lost their garments of light? That would have been Adam and Eve. We are to be restored to the right relation with God as it was in the beginning. This righteousness by faith is the victory for us and for Jesus in the Great Controversy.
What Does Watching Mean?
Ellen White explains this in the Sixth Volume of the Testimonies to the Church called Preparation for the Final Crisis:
Watch In & Watch Out! – 7 Watches – The Main Point of Matthew 24 through 26 and Mark 13 &14. The inspired statement below is presented here as numbered points. It begins with emphasising watching in and then moves to watching out, with the central fourth watch being watch the thoughts:
“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38).
1. Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy,
2. Watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves;
3. Force them back, and watch.
4. Watch the thoughts;
5. Watch the plans, lest they become self-centred.
6. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His blood.
7. Watch for opportunities to do them good. (6T 410.2)
Objections
Works? “But Stephen, the righteousness by faith you are talking about is based on a person’s works!!”
That is exactly right. The Bible tells us Abraham, the father of faith, was justified by works,
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” (James 2:4).
James goes on to inform us that his faith was made perfect by works and that faith is dead without works. Martin Luther, the great reformer, helped restore the light of righteousness by faith to the sanctuary, but he disliked the book of James and believed it should not be included in the Bible. His version of righteousness by faith was correct but only partial, as the reformers emerged from the dark ages of Catholic dogmas invented by men and not by God.
Grace? “It is all about grace! As we see in Ephesians 2:8 and 9, we are saved by grace through faith and not of works.”
Yes, and in verse 10, we are told we were created to do good works. Not our works but God’s works by faith.
And in Titus 2:11,12, we learn that the purpose of grace is to teach us to live righteously and godly in this present world.
The Science of Faith
“…We cannot obey the gospel unto salvation, until the science of faith is better understood, and until more faith is exercised.” {RH, October 18, 1898 par. 7}
“There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” - The Review and Herald, September 3, 1889.
Conclusion
Righteousness by faith or unrighteousness by faith? Sometimes what we think is righteousness by faith may actually be unrighteousness by faith. There are many varieties of righteousness by faith based on people’s different ideas. False beliefs, such as an unbiblical forensic declarative righteousness of faith, draw us away from the victory over temptation we need, as described in the Bible.
Not a few members and leaders in the SDA church appear to now believe part or all of this ‘New’ theology, which stems from Augustinian Catholicism and its original sin construction. At least it’s that way here in Australia.
Many challenges for the identity of the SDA church have been revealed recently, with ties to the United Nations, ecumenical tendencies, autocratic leadership style, reliance on government funding, pushes for women’s ordination, and support for gay membership and gay pastors, amongst others. This growing, catastrophic union with the first and second beasts of Revelation 13 is merely an outer symptom of a far more disastrous underlying cause. That is the increasing degree to which our inspired concept of righteousness by faith has been compromised.
The foundations of the Bible’s and Spirit of Prophecy’s righteousness by faith are in understanding the nature of sin, which involves our choices, and the fallen nature of Christ, inherited from Adam after the fall. Jesus overcame the temptations in the wilderness in our fallen flesh with His loving, faithful connection with His Father through the Holy Spirit, and His Word. This is the transforming Way of righteousness He demonstrated and pointed to. We are to be overcomers by His leading and His power, after we have accepted and continue to accept the gift of His great sacrifice to take away our sins.
Perfection? Or Perfecting?
None of us, including this writer, would ever claim to be perfect, but we are to be growing from faith to faith. Please accept my apologies if any of this offends you, or if you think I have made mistakes or important omissions. I will be continuing my studies and prayer, as I hope you will continue yours.
Inspiration tells us the seed is perfect, the shoot is perfect, the sapling is perfect, and the tree that bears fruit is perfect. We are also shown Jesus will have a remnant people prepared for heaven, steadfast in His righteousness by faith that embraces His Law and His Gospel. God is very, very good, and the more we look to Him, the more brightly His light shines.
Where we choose to look is up to us. May Jesus continue to strengthen each one of us to look more closely to Him, through His Way, through each day!
Amen!
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Stephen Hill was inspired by The Great Controversy in 2010 to become a Seventh-day Adventist. He studied at AFCOE in Weimar in 2011. Now he works as a relief teacher for schools in the Western Australian wheatbelt. He is married to Michele Hill, who is a medical missionary. www.thirdangelsministry.com