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What is Righteousness and What is Not?

Psalm 119:172 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Psalm 119:172 clearly explains to us what righteousness is. All of God’s commandments are Righteousness. Reciprocally we can say that Righteousness is all of God’s commandments. So if all of God’s commandments are righteousness, do we have righteousness if we write God’s commandments down on a piece of paper and put the paper in our pocket, or must we actually keep God’s commandments in order to be righteous? In light of Romans 3:10-12, can anyone be righteous? Romans 2:10-12 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Paul says there is none that understandeth, nor seeketh after God, they are all gone out of the way and are unprofitable. Notice that in verse Romans 3:12 that He writes in the last phrase, that “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” So does this mean that what we do has something to do with being righteous? So is he talking about righteousness by works? I think not. Another name for God’s commandments is … Continued

There is No Respect of Persons With God

Acts 10:34-35 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Here Peter says that God is no respecter of persons. When reading Acts chapter 10 in it’s entirety we can understand that even the Apostles of Jesus were mistaken in their belief that salvation was for the Jew only. Peter says that God accepts those, of every nation, who do two things. Those who fear God, and those who worketh righteousness. Among believers, most will easily understand what it means to fear God. {Proverbs 9:10} On the other hand it may behoove us to look a little deeper into the Word of God to see what it means to “worketh Righteousness.” That would be a little off topic for this discussion. To see what it means to “worketh Righteousness,” please visit the following article: What is Righteousness and What is Not? Is God a Respecter of Persons According to Paul? Romans 2:11-16 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 … Continued

The Time of the End

It is true that in the time of the end, when God’s work in the earth is closing, the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of divine favor. Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God’s church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church. {AA 54.2} Some pastors say that we have to wait for the time when the Holy Spirit will be poured out to do the work that the Lord has called us to. That is a false doctrine. Sister White tells us in the quote above that the Holy Spirit is to abide with the church to the end of time. 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 talks about the falling away, but that is speaking of the false Church. God’s true church was to remain true and pure and the Holy Spirit was to abide in it unto the end of time. In the … Continued

The Seven Thunders

The seven thunders were a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angels’ messages. Revelation 10:3-7 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. In the quote below Sister White tells us that the message given to the Adventist Church was a test. Those who are not led to repent and obey will be destroyed with the disobedient. Not only was it a test … Continued

Preparation for the End

At Oswego, New York, September 7, 1850, the Lord showed me that a great work must be done for His people before they could stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. I was pointed to those who claim to be Adventists, but who reject the present truth, and saw that they were crumbling and that the hand of the Lord was in their midst to divide and scatter them now in the gathering time, so that the precious jewels among them, who have formerly been deceived, may have their eyes opened to see their true state. And now when the truth is presented to them by the Lord’s messengers, they are prepared to listen, and see its beauty and harmony, and to leave their former associates and errors, embrace the precious truth and stand where they can define their position. {EW 69.2} I saw that those who oppose the Sabbath of the Lord could not take the Bible and show that our position is incorrect; therefore they would slander those who believe and teach the truth and would attack their characters. Many who were once conscientious and loved God and His Word have become so hardened by rejecting the light of truth that they do not hesitate to wickedly misrepresent and falsely accuse those who love the … Continued

Cooking on the Sabbath

Let’s start with a few quotes which will set the stage to reveal in what manner we should regard the Sabbath. The bolded parts focuses in on the part most relevant to this topic, but keep in mind that the whole quote, and even adjacent paragraphs are often very much relevant to the topic. So feel free to read “the bolded parts only” in order to get the overview of the topic, but keep in mind that surface reading is never sufficient to learn the full truth in every matter. It is only by digging deep and knowing everything can we be safe from the delusions of the last days. After reading this topic it can very well be wise to go back over the quotes and read the adjacent paragraphs in the original text. While some have been urging their man-made tests upon the people, the claims of the fourth commandment have been held very lightly. We knew that the blessing of God could not rest upon this church until there was a reformation upon this important point. Those who stand in responsible positions should be careful that their words and example are such as will lead the people to correct views and practices. They should be sure that in no way they belittle the requirements of God. Because … Continued

The Canvassing Work

“The canvassing work should never languish.” The canvassing work should never languish. The agencies set in operation to do this work need always to be under the control of the Holy Spirit of God. There must be perfect harmony and unity of spirit among the workers who handle the books which are to flood the world with light. Wherever the canvassing work is presented among our people, let both the health books and the religious books be presented together as parts of a united work. The relation of the religious and the health books is presented to me as illustrated by the union of the warp and the woof to form a beautiful pattern and a perfect piece of work. {RH June 20, 1899, Art. A, par. 1} In the past, by many, the health books have not been handled with proper interest. It has not been regarded as essential that they should go to the world. But what can be a better preparation for the coming of the Lord, and for the reception of other truths essential to prepare a people for his coming, than to arouse the people to see the evils of this age, and to stir them to reformation from self-indulgence and unhealthful living? Is not the world in need of being aroused on the subject … Continued

Parable of the 10 Virgins

I saw the necessity of the messengers, especially, watching and checking all fanaticism wherever they might see it rise. Satan is pressing in on every side, and unless we watch for him, and have our eyes open to his devices and snares, and have on the whole armor of God, the fiery darts of the wicked will hit us. There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is “present truth” that the flock needs now. I have seen the danger of the messengers running off from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to unite the flock and sanctify the soul. Satan will here take every possible advantage to injure the cause. {EW 63.1} But such subjects as the sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are perfectly calculated to explain the past Advent movement and show what our present position is, establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious future. These, I have frequently seen, were the principal subjects on which the messengers should dwell. {EW 63.2} Of greatest significance in the first paragraph of the quote above is the sentence that says, “There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, … Continued

Who is the King of the North

Sunday morning the weather was still cloudy, but before it was time for the people to assemble the sun shone forth. Boats and trains poured their living freight upon the ground, as was the case last year. Elder Smith spoke in the morning upon the Eastern question. The subject was of special interest, and the people listened with the most earnest attention. It seemed to be just what they wanted to hear. {RH September 6, 1877, par. 11} Confine Public Efforts to Important Lines of Truth We Are United Upon Let us confine our public efforts to the presentation of the important lines of truth on which we are united, and on which we have clear light. {1SM 167.2} No Time for Study on Subjects Unnecessary for Perfection of Faith There are many questions treated upon that are not necessary for the perfection of the faith. We have no time for their study. {1SM 163.2} We are Not to Search Into Matters on Which God has Been Silent Matters of vital importance have been plainly revealed in the Word of God. These subjects are worthy of our deepest thought. But we are not to search into matters on which God has been silent. {1SM 173.5} Elder Smith United with Us on the Eastern Question Elder [Uriah] Smith spoke on the … Continued

Daniel and the Revelation 1897 Intro

That the book of Daniel was written by the person whose name it bears, there is no reason to doubt. Exekiel, who was contemporary with Daniel, bears testimony, through the spirit of prophecy, to his piety and uprightness, ranking him in this respect with Noah and Job; “Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast; though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lor .God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” Eze. 14:19, 20. His wisdom also, even at that early day, had become proverbial, as appears from the same writer. To the prince of Tyrus he was directed of the Lord to say, “Behold thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee.” Eze. 28:3. But above all, our Lord recognized him as a prophet of God, and bade his disciples understand the predictions given through him for the benefit of his church: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whosoever readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” … Continued