Handout for Righteousness by Faith Sermon

Jeff Horn

Midland SDA Church

November 30, 2019

Three Angel’s Messages

· “In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import--the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance.  They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention.”  -9T 19.1

· “The theme of greatest importance is the third angel’s message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels. All should understand the truths contained in these messages and demonstrate them in daily life, for this is essential to salvation. We shall have to study earnestly, prayerfully, in order to understand these grand truths; and our power to learn and comprehend will be taxed to the utmost.”—Ev 196.1

· “Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel's message, and I have answered, 'It is the third angel's message in verity.' “ —RH April 1, 1890

· “Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure.” –LDE 200.2

· “The message of Christ’s righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel.”  –LDE 200.3

· “The last message of mercy to be given to the world is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.” –LDE 200.4

What is Sin?

· It is the transgression of the law.  There is no other definition.

·  “Sin is the transgression of the law.”  This is the only definition of sin. –SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 951

· “The only definition we find in the Bible for sin is that “sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). -1SM 320

· “Our only definition of sin is that given in the word of God: it is “the transgression of the law;” it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government.” -GC 493

· “Now we want to understand what sin is, that it is the transgression of God’s law.  This is the only definition given in the Scriptures.” -FW 56

· “What is to bring the sinner to the knowledge of his sins, unless he knows what sin is?  The only definition of sin in the Word of God is given us in I John 3:4: “Sin is the transgression of the law”. -Our High Calling, 141

· “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.”  This is the only definition of sin given in the Holy Scriptures, and we should seek to understand what sin is, lest any of us be found in opposition to the God of heaven.”                          -RH, July 15, 1890

· “The only definition of sin, given in God’s Word, is the transgression of the law.  It is not excusable, and has no defense or justification.” -General Conference Bulletin, March 2, 1897

· “It is the privilege of every sinner to ask his teacher what sin really is.  Give me a definition of sin.  We have one in I John 3.  “Sin is the transgression of the law.”  Now this is the only definition of sin in the whole Bible.” -Sermons and Talks, vol 1, p 228

· “If we have not the faith that works by love, and purifies the soul from every stain of sin, then we have a spurious faith.  Christ is not the minister of sin.  And what is sin?  The only definition given in God’s word is, “Sin is the transgression of the law”. -ST November 24, 1887

· “In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning.  The only definition for sin that we have in the Bible is that it is the transgression of the law.” -ST March 3, 1890, par. 3

· It requires understanding

· “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”     –James 4:17

· “Jesus said to them (Pharisees), “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” –John 9:41

· “If light comes, and that light is set aside, or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before the light comes there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject.”            -1T 116.1

· “The times of this ignorance God winked at…” –Acts 17:30

· “We shall not be held accountable for the light that has not reached our perception, but for that which we have resisted and refused.  A man could not apprehend the truth which had never been presented to him, and therefore could not be condemned for light he had never had.”          –SDA Bible Commentary, vol 5, p 1145 (EGW Comments)

· “None will be condemned for not heeding light and knowledge that they never had.” –SDA Bible Commentary, vol 5, p 1145 (EGW Comments)

· It requires choice

· “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desired and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”        –James 1:14-15

· “Before sin exists in the heart, the consent of the will must be given.”   –ST December 18, 1893

· “An impure thought tolerated, an unholy desire cherished, and the soul is contaminated, its integrity compromised.” -5T, 177

· “No man can be forced to transgress.  His own consent must first be gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act before passion can dominate over reason or iniquity triumph over conscience.  Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for sin.” -5T, 177

· “There are thoughts and feelings suggested and aroused by Satan that annoy even the best of men; but if they are not cherished, if they are repulsed as hateful, the soul is not contaminated with guilt, and no other is defiled by their influence.” –RH, March 27, 1888

· I told [Mary] sin was not man’s misfortune but his guilt.  Man was not a sinner because of circumstances, or his education or his temperament, but from deliberate choice.  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:19,20. -Letter 57, 1876

· “It is not in the power of Satan to force anyone to sin.  Sin is the sinner’s individual act.  Before sin exists in the heart, the consent of the will must be given, and as soon as it is given, sin is triumphant, and hell rejoices.” –ST December 18, 1893

· “Sinners are such by their own deliberate choice.” –From the Heart, 151

· Only held responsible for personal choices

· “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.” –Deuteronomy 24:16

· “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” –Ezekiel 18:20

· “It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parent’s guilt, except as they participate in their sins…By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the father’s sin.  Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation.” –PP 306

·  “The children (Jews) were not condemned for the sins of the parents; but when, with a knowledge of all the light given to their parents, the children rejected the additional light granted to themselves, they became partakers of the parents’ sins, and filled up the measure of their iniquity.” –GC 27,28

Christ’s Human Nature

· “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” –Romans 8:3

· “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same…in all things He had to be made like [His] brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” –Hebrews 2:14,17

· “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh…” –Romans 1:3

· “…but He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” -Philippians 2:7

· “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God…” -1 John 4:2

o This doesn’t just mean that Christ took a human body.  Catholics believe that, but they don’t believe that He took fallen nature.

· “It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity.”  –DA 48

· “The Son of God…took upon Him our sinful nature. Clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might associate with fallen humanity, He sought to regain for man that which by disobedience Adam had lost, for himself and for the world…”  –ST July 30, 1902

· “Christ is the ladder that Jacob saw, the base resting on the earth, and the topmost round reaching to the gate of heaven, to the very threshold of glory. If that ladder had failed by a single step of reaching the earth, we should have been lost. But Christ reaches us where we are. He took our nature and overcame, that we through taking His nature might overcome.”  –DA 311

· “Having taken our fallen nature, He showed what it might become.” –3SM 134

· “It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon himself the form and nature of fallen man.” –Spiritual Gifts 4A, 115

· “Though He had all the strength of passion of humanity, never did He yield to temptation to do one single act which was not pure and elevating and ennobling.” –In Heavenly Places 155

· “Adam was tempted by the enemy, and he fell.  It was not indwelling sin which caused him to yield; for God made him pure and upright, in His own image.  He was as faultless as the angels before the throne.  There was in him no corrupt principles, no tendencies to evil.  But when Christ came to meet the temptations of Satan, He bore ‘the likeness of sinful flesh.’” –ST October 17, 1900

· “When Jesus Christ bore the likeness of sinful flesh, it was not the nature of Adam, who was as faultless as the angels before the throne, without any tendencies to evil within him.  But Jesus bore the likeness of sinful flesh.  He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was ‘in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’” –The Ministry of Healing, 71

· “In our conclusions, we make many mistakes because of our erroneous views of the human nature of our Lord.  When we give to His human nature a power that is not possible for man to have in his conflicts with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity…Jesus…could only keep the commandments of God in the same way that humanity can keep them.” –SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, pg. 929 (EGW comments)

· “The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study. Christ was a real man; He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. Yet He was God in the flesh. When we approach this subject, we would do well to heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5). We should come to this study with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, which will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth.” –1SM 244

· “In our humanity, Christ was to redeem Adam's failure. But when Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body…. It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation...” –DA 117

· “Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven [at Christ’s baptism] declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal.” –DA 112

· “Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man's nature, He could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, He could not have been tempted as man has been. If it were not possible for Him to yield to temptation, He could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that Christ came to fight the battles as man, in man's behalf. His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the divine nature.” –1SM 408

· “Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God.” –Manuscript 57, 1890

· “Christ took our human nature, fallen but not corrupt, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God.” –SM1 408

· “He (Jesus) came not to our world to give the obedience of a lesser God to a greater, but as a man to obey God’s holy law, and in this way He is our example. The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God’s power to help in every emergency.” –SDA Bible Commentary, vol 7, pg. 929 (EGW comments)

Sin Separates us from God

· “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you...” –Isaiah 59:2

·  “One sin unrepented of is enough to close the gates of heaven against you. It was because man could not be saved with one stain of sin upon him, that Jesus came to die on Calvary’s cross. Your only hope is to look to Christ and live. He came to save to the uttermost all who came unto him; and he is fully able to do all that he has undertaken to do for you. He will lift us up from the degradation into which we have fallen because of sin.” -ST March 17, 1890, par. 2

· “Sanctification is a daily work. Let none deceive themselves with the belief that God will pardon and bless them while they are trampling upon one of His requirements. The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God. Whatever may be the ecstasies of religious feeling, Jesus cannot abide in the heart that disregards the divine law. God will honor those only who honor Him.” –Sanctified Life 92

· “God does not give us up because of our sins. We may make mistakes and grieve His Spirit, but when we repent and come to Him with contrite hearts, He will not turn us away. There are hindrances to be removed. Wrong feelings have been cherished, and there have been pride, self-sufficiency, impatience, and murmurings. All these separate us from God. Sins must be confessed; there must be a deeper work of grace in the heart.” –FW 35.3

· “Every day that you remain in sin, you are in Satan’s ranks; and should you sicken and die without repentance, you would be lost.” –RH December 24, 1889, Article A, par. 8

· “Your only safety is in coming to Christ, and ceasing from sin this very moment. The sweet voice of mercy is sounding in your ears today, but who can tell if it will sound tomorrow?” –ST August 29, 1892, par. 5

·  "Christ died to evidence to the sinner that there was no hope for him while he continued in sin. Obedience to all God's requirements is his only hope for pardon through the blood of Christ."    –UL 189

· "But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can  cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul." -1SM 366

· “Every impurity of thought, every lustful passion, separates the soul from God.  For Christ can never put his robe of righteousness upon a sinner to hide his deformity.” –Our High Calling 214

· “Christ’s life declares that humanity combined with divinity does not commit sin.” –MH 180

· “Just as soon as we separate ourselves from God by sin, which is the transgression of His law, Satan takes control of our minds.” -RH July 12, 1887

· “By choosing to sin, men separate themselves from God, cut themselves off from the channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin and death.” -1SM 235

· “God does not separate from His people, but His people separate themselves from God by their own course of action.” 1888 Materials, p 1011

· “So long as the people of God preserve their fidelity to Him, so long as they cling by living faith to Jesus, they are under the protection of heavenly angels, and Satan will not be permitted to exercise his hellish arts upon them to their destruction.  But those who separate themselves from Christ by sin are in great peril.” -Maranatha 95

· “Their iniquitous practices did that for Israel which all the enchantments of Balaam could not do–they separated them from God.” -PP 455

· “Many who might be fruitful in God’s service become bent on acquiring wealth.  Their whole energy is absorbed in business enterprises, and the feel obliged to neglect things of a spiritual nature.  Thus they separate themselves from God.” -COL 51

Sanctification (like Justification) is a necessary part of Salvation

· “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth…” -2 Thessalonians 2:13

·  “…Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit…” -1 Peter 1:2

· “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.” –RH June 4, 1895

· “Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by His Spirit working in and through us.” –SC 63

· “Through faith in My name, He will impart to you the sanctification and holiness which will fit you for His work in a world of sin, and qualify you for an immortal inheritance in His kingdom.”   –ST June 18, 1896, par. 7

· “Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer becomes fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His righteousness is upon us. Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We would not enjoy heaven unless qualified for its holy atmosphere by the influence of the Spirit and the righteousness of Christ.” -1SM 394.3

· “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” -Titus 3:5-7

· “God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.” -FW 100.1

Complete Victory Over Sin is Possible Through Christ     

· “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” -2 Peter 1:4

· “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…” -Jude 24

· “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” -1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

· “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” -2 Corinthians 7:1

· “Christ overcame the temptations of Satan as a man. Every man may overcome as Christ overcame. He humbled Himself for us. He was tempted in all points like as we are. He redeemed Adam’s disgraceful failure and fall, and was conqueror, thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and to fallen humanity that man could keep the commandments of God through the divine power granted to him of heaven. Jesus the Son of God humbled Himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf to show us how we may overcome. He has thus bound up His interests with humanity by the closest ties, and has given the positive assurance that we shall not be tempted above that we are able, for with the temptation He will make a way of escape.” -3SM 136.3

· “Satan had claimed that it was impossible for man to obey God's commandments; and in our own strength it is true that we cannot obey them. But Christ came in the form of humanity, and by His perfect obedience He proved that humanity and divinity combined can obey every one of God's precepts.” -COL 314.4

· “Christ did not leave this world until He had made it possible for every soul to live a life of perfect faith and obedience, to have a perfect character."—Manuscript Releases 17, 85

· “Then (through belief in Him) we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character.  We need not retain one sinful propensity.” –RH April 24, 1900

· “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” –Romans 6:17

· “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” –Romans 8:1,2

· “Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver…He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.” –DA 203.2

· “When a soul receives Christ, he receives power to live the life of Christ.” –COL 314

· “The Christian life is one of daily surrender, submission, and continual overcoming.” -4BC 1154

· “Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin.  He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.” –DA 311

· “He who has sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” –RH March 10, 1894

· “We can overcome.  Yes; fully, entirely.  Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome every evil temper, every sin, every temptation, and sit down at last with Him.”  -1T 144

·  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13

· “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” –Revelation 3:21

· “If you will stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, faithfully doing His service, you need never yield to temptation; for One stands by your side who is able to keep you from falling.” –OHC 19

· “Not even by a thought did (Jesus) yield to temptation.  So it may be with us.” –DA 123

· “The life that Christ lived in this world, men and women can live through His power and under His instruction.  In their conflict with Satan they may have all the help that He had.  They may be more than conquerors through Him who loved them and gave Himself for them.” -9T 22

· “That life in you will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Him.  Thus you will be in harmony with every precept of His law.” –MB 78

· “The Savior took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome.  Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature’ and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.” –MH 180

· “Christ came to this earth and lived a life of perfect obedience, that men and women, through his grace, might also live lives of perfect obedience.  This is necessary for their salvation.” –RH March 15, 1906

· “Through the plan of redemption, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.” -1SM 82

· “Do not settle down in Satan’s easy chair, and say that there is no use, you cannot cease to sin, that there is no power in you to overcome. There is no power in you apart from Christ, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and He can overcome sin in you, when you cooperate with His efforts....” -OHC 76.5

· “To every one who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the law of heaven.” –RH September 27, 1906

· “Christ died to make it possible for you to cease to sin, and sin is the transgression of the law.”   –RH August 28, 1894

· “Everyone who by faith obeys God’s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression.” –HP 146

· “Christ has made every provision for the sanctification of His Church.  He has made abundant provision for every soul to have such grace and strength that he will be more than a conqueror in the warfare against sin…He came to this world and lived a sinless life, that in His power His people might also live lives of sinlessness.  He desires them by practicing the principles of truth to show to the world that God’s grace has power to sanctify the heart.” –RH April 1, 1902

· “In His humanity, perfected by a life of constant resistance of evil, the Savior showed that through co-operation with Divinity, human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character.  This is God’s assurance to us that we, too, may obtain complete victory.” –AA 531

· “In His life and character He not only reveals the character of God, but the possibility of man.”    -1SM 349

· “He came to fulfill all righteousness, and, as the head of humanity, to show man that he can do the same work, meeting every specification of the requirements of God…Perfection of character is attainable by every one who strives for it.” –GAG 141

· “He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that he can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” –RH March 10, 1904

· “Christ took humanity and bore the hatred of the world that He might show men and women that they could live without sin, that their words, their actions, their spirit, might be sanctified to God.  We can be perfect Christians if we will manifest this power in our lives.” –The Upward Look 303

· “Christ’s life declares that humanity combined with divinity does not commit sin.” –MH 180

· “As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings.”  -COL 333.1

· “In his humanity, he laid hold of the divinity of God; and this every member of the human family has the privilege of doing.  Christ did nothing, that human nature may not do if it partakes of the divine nature.” –ST June 17, 1897

· “Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him.  His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was.” –DA 664

· “Abundant provision has been made that finite, fallen man may so connect with God that, through the same Source by which Christ overcame in His human nature, he may stand firmly against every temptation, as did Christ.” -3SM 130

· “Just that which you may be He was in human nature.” –Letter 106, 1896

· “His life testified that by the aid of the same divine power which Christ received, it is possible for man to obey God’s law.” -3SM 132

·  “That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. –Ephesians 5:27

Satan’s Charge: Fallen Man Cannot Keep God’s Law

· “Satan, the fallen angel, had declared that no man could keep the law of God after the disobedience of Adam. He claimed the whole race under his control.” -3SM 136.1

· “Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam to keep the law of God, and thus charged upon God a lack of wisdom and love. If they could not keep the law, then there was fault with the Lawgiver. Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men cannot keep the law of God.” –ST Jan 16, 1896

· “Satan declared that human beings could not live without sin. –HP 13.6

· “In the opening of the great controversy Satan had declared that the law of God could not be obeyed.” -DA 761

· “On this earth, Satan sought to carry forward the work he began in heaven. He declared that man could not obey the law of God.” -ST July 23, 1902

· “Satan had pointed to Adam’s sin as proof that God’s law was unjust, and could not be obeyed.”    -DA 117

· “After the fall of man, Satan declared that human beings were proved to be incapable of keeping the law of God, and he sought to carry the universe with him in this belief.” -1SM 252

God Answers Satan’s Charge

· The Importance of Answering Satan’s Charge

· “The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity.  The honor of God, the honor of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His people.” –DA 671

· “The honor of Christ must stand complete in the perfection of the character of His chosen people.” –ST November 25, 1897

· “Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer… The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken. Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then understand all that was involved in the great controversy.” –DA 761

· God’s Answer

· “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” –Romans 16:20

· “In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found…” –Jeremiah 50:20

· “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes…” –Ezekiel 36:23

· “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” –Romans 8:18-19

· “The warfare against God's law, which was begun in heaven, will be continued until the end of time. Every man will be tested. Obedience or disobedience is the question to be decided by the whole world. All will be called to choose between the law of God and the laws of men. Here the dividing line will be drawn. There will be but two classes. Every character will be fully developed; and all will show whether they have chosen the side of loyalty or that of rebellion. Then the end will come. God will vindicate His law and deliver His people.” –DA 763

· “Just before us is the closing struggle of the great controversy when, with “all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness,” Satan is to work to misrepresent the character of God, that he may “seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” If there was ever a people in need of constantly increasing light from heaven, it is the people that, in this time of peril, God has called to be the depositaries of His holy law and to vindicate His character before the world.” -5T 746.1

· “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” -COL 69.1