[200] How is this changing of God's law demonstrated in the Bible? Since Satan works through human beings - he doesn't type laws himself or print them - Daniel 7:25 applies. When man chooses his own way and spurns God's way, this changing of laws can happen too.

[400] That God's people are being infiltrated by wicked powers is also spoken of by the prophets. We read, "Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for [I] will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe, though it be told [you]. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places [that are] not theirs." Hab. 1:4-6. First of all Habakkuk notes that the law is powerless, there is no justice. Then he writes of the Chaldeans. Who are they? The divine sentence was that Babylon is going to march through the land of God's people. Those Chaldean idol worshippers infiltrate the whole land with their falsities. This is especially a book which speaks to those living in the last days before Jesus comes. -- When Babylon marches through the land; they are not marching through the land as a parade. This is a battle, this is not a parade. Ellen White said that our world is not a parade ground, but a battlefield. -- In 1988, a pastor visiting in Australia was handed a note on his speaking tour. The message read something like this: "I am a member of the Society of Jesus. I am teaching in a school for the Church of England. There is a church described in Revelation 12:17 and 19:10. We have thoroughly infiltrated that church. SJ" - We know, the SJ has thoroughly infiltrated this church.
The battle first takes place in the mind. If you accept their theology, if you accept their philosophy, if you accept their teaching, they gotcha! Excuse the English. They take captives like the sand. Well, how many captives are they going to take? Do you know what Babylon thinks today? They think that they are going to take us all over. They really believe that. Habakkuk saw that they believed that. See verse 10: "They scoff at kings. Princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold." They think that they are going to be able to totally take over Adventism. The very few, the two or three here or there who do not accept them, they are willing to get rid of them. Put them in prison. But before they do that they are going to get control mentally of the vast majority.
God will test his people. He is doing it now. How does God do it? -- God says to us, I can take away all of your sickness, I can take away the problem of death, I can take away the problem of pain, I can take away the problem of sorrow, and we say, "That is what I want! Lord, I am going to follow you. Lord, I love You. I want to do whatever You want me to do." The Lord says fine, we will see if you love Me or not, if you really love Me more than anything else, whether you want to do My will more than anything else, and He allows things to happen so that it is not popular to follow Him. God deliberately allows things like that to happen.
In fact, Ellen White says that in every generation God has set a testing truth, and those who accept it are despised. She says that has happened in every generation. It happened in Martin Luther's day, it happened in Paul's day, it happened in Habakkuk's day, and more than ever before it is happening in our day.
There are a lot of people who want to follow the Lord when it is popular, and they say, `We are going to go out and we are going to finish the work.' Really? Are you going to go out and finish the work if it is not popular? When the drums are not banging, the bands are not playing, and when instead of the enthusiasm and the excitement it looks like you are going to be crucified instead, are you still going to go out and finish the work?

[500] How words can make a person into a pathological liar. "The words are an indication of what is in the heart. `Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.'(Matthew 12:34) But the words are more than an indication of character, they have power to react upon the character. Did you follow that? The words are more than an indication of character. Words tell what kind of person you are. But also, they react on the character. You can talk yourself into things. You can say things that are not true until you believe them. "Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts upon the thoughts. They are deceived by their words, and come to believe that to be true which was spoken at Satan's instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are." [DA, 323.] This is how a person can become a pathological liar and become so self deceived that he loses contact with reality and believes his own imaginations to be true.

[530] Simon Magus: Earlier in the life of the Apostle Peter, he had an encounter with Simon Magus, a Samaritan who was a priest of Babylonian persuasion. Simon Magus was a studied man and wanted to purchase the title of Apostle which he thought he deserved after having been baptized by a mission effort of Peter in Samaria. (Acts 8:9-25). This Simon was a crafty man who saw an advantage for his own causes when there was one, and knew how to take advantage so as to further his own goals. His main goal became more and more to be the founder of a worldwide, universal church. His `conversion' was not a genuine conversion. Having been rebuffed by Peter because of his `simony', trying to purchase a religious office (the word `simony' was coined after his name), he seemed to have entertained a defiant anger and used all his prowess and skill to achieve his goal to become the head of a universal church. For that purpose he removed at some point to Rome where he taught his mixture of Christianity and Babylonian mysticism, thereby revealing himself as the agency, the man of sin, by which the once true and pure Christian religion became adulterated in time to be a Romanized, Catholic, universal, false religion. While in Rome, Simon Magus also assumed the name Simon Peter, which led to much confusion and the idea that the Apostle Peter was the first Pope, when actually this pagan priest Simon Magus, alias Simon Peter, became the first Pope of his universal church. Thus his sect of paganized Christian services were adopted into the Catholic Church. [See also A. Harnack, A History of the Christian Church, N.Y. 1907-10; Vol. p..; J. Hasting, Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, 1915-18, Vol. I, II, various pages.; and his History of Dogma. If you can read German or would want to see just a few more Bible texts and explanations click here.]

[550] Bible believing Christians serve a God of love. His trademark is that His followers are "to love one another", even as He loved us. When these many pagans converted to the Christian faith, many were not truly converted to Bible beliefs. When pagan Christians read about the love of God and fellow man, they kept reading the Greek word agape. Well, the pagan lifestyle believed in free love but they called that love by the Greek word eros. Eros love was the highest form of love in their thinking. So, the church leaders in the next few decades and centuries after John the Revelator had passed away, knew they had a problem on their hands. The orthodox Christians accepted only agape loving converts in their churches. The liberal Christians wanted to see only eros loving followers in their meetings. Augustine was then an up and coming thought leader through his writings. In order to solve the problem, he invented another concept of this agape love in contrast to the eros love and called it caritas, from which stems our word, "cherity." So, some Bibles use this word "cherity" in 1.Corinthians 13, instead of the word `love' in English Bibles. Ok, is there a problem. Yes, there is a conceptual problem, for you see God's agape love is unconditional, spontaneous, uncaused and independent of our goodness or worth, (Rom. 5:6-10). It is a changeless and everlasting love. It is self-emptying, i.e. it is selfless, and therefore will step down for the benefit of others (1.Cor, 13:5; 2.Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6-8). - - However, the eros type love is conditional. It depends on someone's beauty or goodness and therefore needs arousing. It is changeable, it fluctuates and is unreliable (consider the divorce rate in the US). Not only that, but it is also self-seeking, i.e. it is egocentric, and therefore always wants to climb socially, politically, academically, economically, and even religiously. - - The eros gospel believes in `Salvation by Works Alone.' In contrast, the agape gospel believes in `Salvation by Grace Alone.' - - So the system Augustine was instrumental in inventing said, caritas is a compromise solution, it teaches `Salvation by Faith + Works.' That makes his gospel a perverted, impure gospel. Millions of people in the world believe in this Caritas Gospel, to the expense of the `Salavation by Faith Alone Gospel' which Seventh-day Adventists teach. You see, the types of works which the eros followers believe in are those "works" which were not ordained by God. But the works we don't seek are dead works, Jesus says, "... He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father." John 14:12. You see, when we do as Jesus did, our self efforts do not exist - Jesus does it all, Rom. 6:7-13; Lk 9:23; 1.Cor. 15:31. What are dead works of Hebre. 6:1? The forgiveness of sin is promised to him who repents and believes, but is it enough? But we are also looking for deliverance from sin without which our life is a vicious cycle of sinning, being forgiven and sinning again. But we realize that sinful acts may be forgiven and blotted out by the blood of Christ, however, our sinful nature is not affected by forgiveness, it must be ended or "crucified". Our sinful nature is beyond repair. It cannot be rebuild into something that is acceptable to God. - - So then what? and thus for the crown of life that will be the reward of him who is faithful to the end. We may grow in grace by improving through the grace we already have. We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world if we would be found blameless in the day of God. Faith and works go hand in hand; they act harmoniously in the work of overcoming. Works without faith are dead, and faith without works is dead. Works will never save us; it is the merit of Christ that will avail in our behalf. Through faith in Him, Christ will make all our imperfect efforts acceptable to God. The faith we are required to have is not a do-nothing faith; saving faith is that which works by love and purifies the soul. He who will lift up holy hands to God without wrath and doubting will walk intelligently in the way of God's commandments.

[570] Some may say, Well, its not fair to call these religions this way. Where does that come from. The reply would be, The Bible and history identifies these religions as such. We just as soon had it nice and smooth, but that is not the world we live in.

[600] Know about the various forms the Final Deception will assume:
I. Satan will work through the lawless one "with all power, signs, and lying wonders." 2.Thess. 2:9.
II. Satan will work through "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy." 1.Tim. 4:1,2.
III. Satan and his fallen angels will produce great signs: Imitating Elijah, they will bring fire down from heaven, deceiving the people on earth. Rev. 13:13,14.
IV. Demonic spirits will work through the unholy trinity - the beast, the false prophet, and the dragon - and will perform such amazing signs that they will be able to lead the world's rulers and their people to the "battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:13,14.
Do not trust your senses and know the deceptions
1. Demons will be able to produce terrifying phenomena: "Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons." {GC, 624} This statement calls to mind the predictions of signs in the heavens made during supposed appearances of the virgin Mary. According to such Marian apparitions, these cosmic signs will indicate God's soon coming chastisement of sinners.
2. Demons will support Sunday laws: "Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to convince the rejectors of Sunday of their error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God." {GC 591}
3. Demons will claim to be the apostles: "The apostles, as impersonated by these lying spirits, are made to contradict what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth. They deny the divine origin of the Bible, and thus tear away the foundation of the Christians hope and put out the light that reveals the way to heaven. . . . And to take the place of the Word of God he [Satan] holds out spiritual manifestations." {GC 557}
4. Demons will pretend to be the gods of modern pagan religions: "As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world." {Evangelism 705} Just think of deceptive Islam's influence.
5. Then there will come the greatest deception of them all: "As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: `Christ has come! Christ has come!' The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion." {GC 624}
The Almost Overpowering Deception: Satan will use every means possible to convince us that we are wrong. As people clamor for relief from crime and disasters, the leaders try to return the land to what outwardly may appear as a good Christian society. However, because multitudes have been misled into believing that Sunday is now God's holy day, they also believe that the man in Rome, ruling over many people, is not the antichrist. He has achieved a reputation of being a nice leader who is concerned with peace and justice for all people in the world. Instead, they believe now, that a Jew will be the antichrist. And since people know that Christians keep Sunday and the Jews keep Sabbath, who would it be then whom the whole world will regard as belonging to the antichrist? - Yes! They will regard Sabbath keeping people as the antichrist. The whole deluded world will point to you, the Sabbath keeper, and when Satan appears as Jesus, he will bring out his ultimate claim to victory and say, `These are they which killed me. . . These Sabbath keepers have my blood on their hands.' And he will say, `We keep Sunday in honor of my resurrection,' which will be the almost overpowering lie and those who are not prepared, are not convicted of what they believe, will they be able to withstand such a charge? - Therefore, we must work now for the Lord telling people the reasons for Bible faith that will go through to the end. We must warn of Satan's coming deception now, for it cannot be said in a few hours. We must warn our own people to make sure of their salvation and know these things ahead of time for it will be part of a global crisis. Please help in that important work. We step out in faith doing it now. More help is needed. - It is important to take advantage of this relative calm that we still enjoy to fortify the mind with truth. When the flood of deceptions washes over us, one hard on the heels of another, each of us will have to stand alone. No one else will be able to make the decision for us as to what is truth and what is error. That will be each believers personal responsibility. "To all the testing time will come." {GC 625.3}
But spiritualism involves more than communication with the dead, it also has to do with certain philosophies, i.e.:
"Spiritualism teaches that man is the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his birth to progress, even to eternity; toward the Godhead. . . . Any just and perfect being is Christ." {GC 554}
Each of these ideas we find in our society today: a) Human beings as evolving creatures lies at he foundation of evolution.; b) Progress toward a Godhead occurs in the Mormon Adam/God doctrine.; c) And "any just and perfect being is Christ" is a popular teaching of the New Age movement and grows out of Hindu mysticism.
God's instruction is "Combat it." "Those who oppose the teachings of spiritualism are assailing, not men alone, but Satan and his angels. They have entered upon a contest against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places. . . . The people of God should be able to meet him [Satan], as did our Saviour, with the words: `It is written.'" {GC 559}
False or stunted Christian doctrines are another way Satan can mislead people into serving a false Christ. One such popular teaching is to merely intend to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by proclaiming His death and resurrection as God's only provision whereby sinners can be forgiven, redeemed, and justified. What does the Bible say about the question, `What must I do to be saved?' - Are we saved by grace alone?
Question: What is missing in the last paragraph that makes it a dangerous method of presenting the Bible?
Answer: As we struggle to combat the wily attacks of Satan's forces to subvert the true gospel, we should remind us of certain methods Satan uses so successfully to deceive many. These include:
1) Satan tempts men and women to disobey, with the promise that in disobedience they will find liberty and freedom that will make them as gods. There is seen a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God, of idolatrous exaltation of human wisdom above divine revelation.
This may manifest itself in the ideas of dispensationalism. What is wrong with dispensationalism? The idea that people are saved this side of the cross by a different way from how they are saved from before the cross. Is Abraham saved in a different way from Paul? That absolutely cannot be true. God is one God and is the author of one salvation only. Abraham is saved by having looked forward to the cross and we are saved by looking back on it. But in dispensationalism it is said, that we are saved by grace but before the cross, people were saved by law keeping. That is the great lie. All were saved by grace. What is wrong with the theology of law vs. grace we address in many pages, briefly stated, law and grace do not oppose each other, they function on different planes, the law points out sin, grace redeems from sin. We must remember that the Law of God reflects the character of God and represents the foundation of His government. To suggest that God's law can be ignored, changed or belittled in any way is not what the Bible teaches and therefore dangerous, abbreviated doctrine. Please look in the encyclopedia under grace, gospel, law for more in depth explanations. Study patiently the following links: Did the Cross Change God,Old and New Covenant, The Sanctuary, A Time for Truth and more.

At the time, the whole human race will be polarized into only two distinct camps. The Bible describes these two groups in many different ways:

1. Believers and unbelievers (John 3:18);
   
2. Sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46);
   
3. Those who have built their houses on the rock Jesus Christ and those who have built their houses on the sand of their own self-righteousness (Matth. 7:24-27); and
   
4. Those who are sealed with the seal of God and those who have received the mark of the beast (Revelation 7:1-3; 13:16-17; 14:9-10.

In other words, the two groups will be (1) those who belong to God and (2) those who are still ruled by Satan (see 1.John 5:19).

Because of this polarization, the closing events of this world's history will culminate with the final showdown between Christ and Satan. As pointed out in our study on the atonement, this controversy began in heaven when Lucifer, the highest angelic being, rebelled against Christ, the second Person of the Godhead (see Revelation 12:7-9).

In this final showdown, which the book of Revelation describes as the `war of Armageddon' or "the battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:12-16), the conflict will actually be between God's people - the last generation of Christians, and Satan's people - those who have deliberately and ultimately rejected Christ and have chosen to be under the leadership of Satan.

At that time, the faith of this final generation of Christians will be tried and tested to the utmost in a way that no other generation of believers has ever been tested.

This final test is described in the Bible as the great tribulation or the time of trouble. It will take place just before the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world.

Those believers who will endure this great time of trouble and will triumph over the full force of Satan's attacks are described in the Bible as the Remnant. They are the ones who "overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death", Rev. 12:11).

According to Bible prophecy, we are presently living in the antitypical Day of Atonement, the closing events of this earth's history. This was the subject of our last study. Therefore, it is God's purpose that every believer living in these last days be part of that last generation of Christians who will vindicate Him in this final showdown between Christ and Satan. In this study we will examine what the Bible has to say about the Remnant, whom we will discover are "the 144,000," the ones who will vindicate the full power of the gospel by their unshakable faith.

Faith Feelings

Be prepared! During the Great Tribulation, our faith and feelings will part company. But never, ever give up your faith. You may feel that you have let God down. Do not be dismayed, for all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Do not ever forget that it is only because of Jesus' righteousness - 2000 years ago - that believers stand completely righteous in Him today (see Colossians 2:10). It is only as we are united to Christ by faith, that He may present us "holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight" (Col. 1:22). What is the condition? "If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard ...." (Col. 1:23).[100]

The word "remnant" means "faithful ones." In Revelation they are represented as the 144,000 who will vindicate Christ and the power of the gospel during great tribulation. Do you want to be one of them?

Response: ________________________________________________

[10] The symbolic nature of the 144,000 is conveyed in the rendering of the tribes of Revelation 7:4-8. Not all the tribes are listed (there is replacement with near kin), and their order is different than in the Old Testament. A secondary reason for ordering the tribes, as such, was to convey a special message, using the literal meaning of the Hebrew names.
This message is: "God (the Father) and the Lamb: `This troop is immensely happy because they wrestled with Satan, overcoming him by the blood of the Lamb. They forgot the trials of the great tribulation as they heard their reward: Forever, they will be "attached" to the Lamb, following Him wherever He goes. There is hire for them, serving God day and night in His temple. He who sits on the throne will dwell among them to be sons of the right hand with the Lamb.'" It is derived as shown below. How the 144,000 are prefigured in the tabernacle sanctuary is explained here.

[100] Christ the World's Only Hope: `Faultfinding', `the love of the world', `lack of consecration', and `the love of earthly treasures and possessions' were always to a large degree responsible for the condition of the church. To get out of our deplorable, lukewarm condition we must `be zealous and repent.' We must be concerned with our own condition, not first with that of the one next to us. We must consider the wrongs of our life, the failing examples we set, being destitute of the gold we ought to represent. `I am then ashamed of my past mismovements, and feel to heartily repent before God. I ask the forgiveness and prayers of all I have in any way grieved. I mean to make clean work, and arise with the remnant. {Frederick Wheeler, `Ye are the Light of the World,' Dec. 18, 1856, p. 54; A.S. Hutchins, R&H, Feb. 5, 1857, p. 109.; M.E. Cornell, R&H, Feb. 5, 1857, p. 109}
Also consider the Great Revival of 1857-1858 preaching which began not in the churches of the day but "it was brought to pass by the preaching of some long-neglected doctrine of grace." Before that Chandler observed, "Riches increased, and multitudes set their hearts upon them. Political strife grew more bitter, and the great Civil War drew on apace. In the midst of all its plenty and pride, the nation woke one morning to find the glory was all a dream. While speculation was at a fever-heat and when men were wild with a mania for money-making, there came a financial crash unprecedented in the nation's history. In the twinkling of an eye the riches of many took wings and flew away. Bankrupcies, failures, frauds and defalcations were on every hand, and the hearts of men were failing them for fear. - And now that the wheels of industry stood still and the noisy cries of greed were hushed, men stopped to hear the voice of the Spirit calling them to repentance. And they heeded the heavenly call. another revival of national extent began." (Chandler, Warren A., `Great Revivals and the Great Republic,' pp. 189, 190; See also Beardsley, `Religious Progress Through Religious Revivals,' p. 39; )
Today (2009) such recovery out of the financial slump may accordingly not take place since man has given up faith in God for faith in no God. Their will no divine grace flood the land anymore in a large measure, only on individuals now. The wickedness of the world in despising the saving graces of God is unpardonable for the nation if the nation does not repent.
The `Great Revival' of 1857 began with midday prayer meetings in the heart of New York City started by businessman Jeremiah C. Lamphier. "The good work thus begun in New York quickly spread to Philadelphia, Boston and other cities and towns, until there was scarcely a place of any considerable importance in the US in which similar services were not undertaken." {Chandler, p. 192.} - Another writer noted its vast extent. "Then [1857] the Northern States enjoyed another great general revival which visited all parts of the English-speaking world. It was a `Revival With a million Converts'." {Arthur B. Strickland, `The Great American Revival,' pp. 132,133.}
The revival spread so rapidly and moved with such power that "for the time being politics, crime, and the various secular interests of the day were overshadowed by the news of the revival, telegraphic reports of which were given prominence in the daily press. When the revival was at its height, the NY Herald and other papers published extras giving the latest news of the revival from various parts of the country." {Beardslay, pp. 48,49.}
A religious journal of the day (1858) carried the following pen picture during March 1858: "Such a time as the present was never known since the days of the Apostles, for revivals. The prostration of business, the downfall of Mammon, the great god of worship to the multitudes in this land, both in and out of the church, the sinfulness and vanity of earthly treasures, as the supreme good, have come home to the hearts and consciences of the millions in our land with a power that seems irresistible. Revivals now cover our very land, sweeping all before them, as on the day of Pentecost, exciting the earnest and simultaneous cry from thousands, `What shall we do to be saved?' ... The large cities and towns generally from Maine to California are sharing in this great and glorious work. There is hardly a village or town to be found where a special divine power does not appear to be displayed. It really seems as if the Millennium was upon us in its glory." {Henry C. Fish, `Handbook of Revivals', pp. 77,78.}
But where were the great churches that should have led the way? And were was the Laodicean church?
They were asleep, they were not in tune with God's work in the midst of them and so it was stifled and slowed and did not achieve its potential - the preparation of a vast people to meet the Lord in the air. It was of God, but the people did not keep looking up and did not keep their first love to Him, for Jesus saves those who truly love Him and when He comes again, people must be free of all filth of sin to be able to come to Him. They must sustain their faith. They must have left behind all selfish ties to the world, all self-willed religion and only accept His saving graces born of acceptance of His way of life.
What state need God's people reach and maintain? Their faith must be tried and found to be true. Lack of Christian love and faith are the great sins of which God's people are now guilty. Only Christian faith, tried in the fire as gold is, will reveal its ability to work by love and bring everything, even its people in harmony with God. People may be active, they may do much work; but without love, such love as dwellt in the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the family of heaven.
People, religious people, are looking for excitement instead of how to please the Lord and imitate Christ in their daily walk. They pride themselves, `Oh we go to this or that mega church...' God is looking for mega love inside our hearts, not merely rubbing shoulders with mega numbers of people listening to strange music and speeches. God wants His people to wear His garments of white - with no spot or wrinkle on them. This is indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ for a life of willing obedience; it is the righteousness of Christ which can then be imparted, given, to the forgiven sinner and constitutes for him purity of character. Man can only take two things to heaven: his character and souls he/she won for Christ. - Justification by faith in the righteousness of Christ is the most beautiful, the most comforting, the most reassuring, the cardinal doctrine in the Bible. This is what it means:
Righteousness, justification by faith. - The Apostle Paul quotes three times what appears to be fundamental in his theology - "The just shall live by faith in Jesus" (a) Romans 1:17; 3:26; b) Gal. 3:11; c) Hebr. 10:38). Looking over Bible history we notice that Jeremiah framed the title of Jesus which has become so precious to His people today - "The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jer. 23:6) When Paul arrived in Rome for the first time, he defended himself before the unbelieving Jews by saying, "For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain." (Acts 28:20). What was that hope? It was this: `Israel was clothed with change of raiment - the righteousness of Christ imputed to them ... Here is revealed the hope of Israel.' Righteousness by faith was fully available to the Old Testament church, "But the word preached did not profit them, no being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebr. 4:2).
In the first two chapters of his book to the Romans, he establishes the hopeless sinfulness of mankind, the Gentiles first, then the Jews. In the latter half of chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 he states and defends his theology, using the experience of Abraham as the vehicle of his line of thought. "By the deeds of the law there shall not flesh be justified in his sight." (Rm. 3:20) Paul condemned the proud and complacent Jewish religionists, who believed that the observance of religious laws was the key to salvation. The next verse continues the argument: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." (Rm. 3:21) The law points out sin and witnesses to the presence of God's righteousness in the believer's life.
Then Paul proceeds to tell these Jews that even their honored Abraham found his salvation through the same process. In our imagination Abraham stands before the law and discovers himself to be a sinner. Can he appeal to it for help?

`Law, I see I am a sinner. Please help me!'
But the law would have to answer,
`Yes, you are a sinner, but I cannot aid you. All I can do is point out sin and demand righteousness.'
But then Jesus appears on the scene, `Abraham,' He declares, `this is where I come in. I have righteousness enough for both of us.'
`How can that help me?' Abraham inquires.
`All you need to do is believe that I have taken care of it all,' Jesus replies.
Then a third person enters the scene and announces,
`You can't do that. That man is a sinner and belongs to me. You Yourself said that `the wages of sin is death.' Now, you cannot do that and be just.'
`I believe I can,' Jesus answers him, `for you see I am going to die in his place, accept the punishment for his sin. As a result, he will live because of My righteousness.'
Thus God can at the same time be "just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus." (Rm. 3:26).
To establish his thesis that the salvation of man is achieved "without the deeds of the law," Paul continues, "Now to him that works [to earn his salvation] is the reward not reckoned of grace [a gift], but of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Rm. 4:4,5). Then Paul quotes David in support of the same argument and specifically points out that "God imputes righteousness without works," and that "the Lord will not impute sin" (Rm. 4:6,8). Christ accepts responsibility for man's sin, and God credits Christ's righteousness to man.
Paul summarizes his argument this way: "Now it was not written for his [Abraham's] sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rm. 4:23,24).
Ten verses later Paul says, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Rm. 5:10). His death reconciled us with God; and His life, that is, His righteousness imputed to us, saves us. In that sense the full work of atonement is still going on because Jesus as our High Priest "ever lives to make intercession for" us. (Hebr. 7:25).
This subject concludes with one of the most thrilling statements in the New Testament. We read,
"For he [the Father] has made him [the Son] to be sin for us." Why? "That we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2Cor. 5:21).
Christ was treated as we deserve to be treated, so that we might be treated as He deserves to be treated. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. {DA, 25}
When we respond to Christ and surrender our wills to Him, He imputes His righteousness to us, justifying us. That is conversion. Then begins the process of a lifetime experience in which He imparts His righteousness to us. That is sanctification. 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. {R&H, June 4, 1895}[Lorenz, Felix A., `The Only Hope,' 1976]