Justification by Faith prepares us for Christ’s Righteousness; they go together, hand in hand. We receive both when we accept Christ as our Saviour. We receive power to overcome every sin.
I would like to ask, how can we interpret the truth written in Isaiah 8:20? “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” To find out what the testimony is, we read in Exodus 25:21. “And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.” From this verse we understand that the testimony is the Ten Commandments. The ceremonial law was a different law as it was done away with. It pointed to the cross and its shadow. When we read of sin in the following verse, it is referring to the Ten Commandments. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4
Justification by faith is an eternal study. “The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity.” –The Great Controversy, p. 651. A glimpse of the Redeemer was given to our first parents when they sinned (transgressed the law—the Ten Commandments). Abel showed his faith in the promised Saviour by the sacrifice of the lamb plus the fat as a symbol of his faith in the Redeemer and to put away sin (Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4). The patriarchs lived in close connection with the Lord, and did not need many forms or ceremonies to teach them the one grand truth—that sin could be atoned for only by the death of one who was sinless. They needed only a rough altar and an innocent lamb to connect their faith with the infinite Sin-bearer. Of all the sacrifices recorded in the book of Genesis, none comes so near the great anti-typical offering as the one required of Abraham when God called him to offer his only son (Hebrews 11:17–19).
Before the incarnation of the Son of God the Psalmist clearly states, “Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:6–8. (Hebrews 10:5). He was proclaiming this statement in heaven before His incarnation.
Isaiah was prophesying something very unique about Christ’s first coming. “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” Isaiah 53:1–11. And when Jesus revealed Himself to mankind He said, “For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” John 9:39. “And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Isaiah 8:14. (1Peter 2:7–8). This shows He shall be a Saviour to those who believe in Him and a snare to those reject Him. “Christ was standing at the point of transition between two economies and their two great festivals. He, the spotless Lamb of God, was about to present Himself as a sin offering, that He would thus bring to an end the systems of types and ceremonies that for four thousand years had pointed to His death. As He ate the Passover with His disciples, He instituted in its place the service that was to be the memorial of His great sacrifice. The national festival of the Jews was to pass away forever. The service which Christ established was to be observed by His followers in all lands and through all ages.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 652. The same Being who made the covenant with Israel makes another covenant with them. This was prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31–33), however nothing happened for many years. The same Being who made the first covenant (the Redeemer), just before His death, makes this statement: “This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20. “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
In the beginning just after Adam sinned, “The loyal angels hasted speedily to the Son of God and acquainted Him with what was taking place among the angels”.” –The Story of Redemption, p. 17. At that moment, God the Father He was in close converse with Jesus. His form was hid because of the bright beams of the presence of the Father and the angels wanted to know what was going on. Then, finally, Jesus reveals for the first time to the universe that He will take man’s penalty and die for them. The plan of redemption was revealed. Now in human form He speaks with His disciples and confirms the new covenant with them.
The Gospel of Christ is like a mustard seed. Although it is the tiniest of all seeds when it falls to the ground, when it grows it becomes the loftiest of trees. If we understand the love of God in Christ it is like the whole universe spinning on the centrifugal point where stands the cross of Calvary. When He was among His disciples He could not reveal everything because of their spiritual state. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:12–13
This was the theme of the letter Paul wrote to the Galatians. The Christian church was revolutionized when Martin Luther understood the book of Galatians and a great reformation took place. This also happened to the Adventist Church in 1888 with the beginning of the Revelation 18 Angel’s message and the message of the outpouring of the Latter Rain (please read the whole 6 chapters of Galatians). “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto different gospel.” Galatians 1:6. Paul mentioned that even if an angel from heaven preached any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. He was showing the tug of war between the leading Apostles, to slip away from the reality of the gospel and he even mentions Peter acting like a hypocrite.
Paul is trying to awaken the people to the true revelation of Jesus Christ. Do not try to keep the Law like the Ancient Israelites did, but come to the spirituality of the law. What did Jeremiah say in Chapter 31? “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:16–23. This is what Jesus is asking us to do. We are not to keep the letter of the law but the Spirit of the law. This we can do only through faith in Christ. We plead with God to grant us His Spirit so that we may receive help. Then we understand that the Holy Spirit is a helper, not an intruder, Who will guide the human agent to make right decisions concerning salvation.
Salvation is a priceless treasure; it cost everything God possessed. It can be received only by faith. On the cross of Calvary all humanity was represented. The chief priests, mocking amongst themselves along with the scribes, said, Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. While everyone was asking for a visible manifestation, the thief on the cross speaks to Jesus asking, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Luke 23:42. When His favorite disciple betrays Him and all His loved ones have deserted Him, this thief sees that the One who is hanging with him is not just a man but the One who holds everything by His word. Jesus answered Him with joy because of his faith—surely you shall be with Me in paradise. This is what faith is all about. It is not a visible manifestation, but spiritual eyesight. Soon all mankind will be caught up in the supernatural manifestation of satanic spirits transforming themselves to be like angels of light, but our faith must cling to a “Thus saith the Lord”—simply, His word.
The gulf which Adam created by his sin was something unimaginable, but faith is something unique. By faith this gulf is removed and mankind is brought into connection with God again. Faith grasps His hand and reaches out to humanity until the human agent feels the presence of the infinite one near his heart. It fills the soul with the wonderful grace that will enable him to overcome every sin and weakness making his character perfect like His Creator; like he was in the beginning when man was first created.
Nothing but simple faith like a child can accomplish this great transformation. Amen
Augustus Ratneiya