I was studying the Bible this morning, along with the book Christ Our Righteousness by A. G. Daniells, which quotes Ellen G. White. It said that Martin Luther feared this very topic would one day be eliminated.
PASTOR WAGGONER AND A. T. JONES
Once a Christian forgets and abandons righteousness by faith, all that is left is reliance on their own works. What is righteousness by faith? It is receiving Jesus’ power to do good, since there is no good in humans on our own.
This is sobering, because Paul tells us that once we rely on works, we are separated from Jesus. We make ourselves into gods and “good people,” and we render the cross of Jesus of no effect. The 1888 message of righteousness by faith is realizing that we are all sinners with nothing good inside us. Let us find out the five reasons why this is the most important Bible belief.
1. Righteousness by Faith — Without It, We Are Left Relying on Our Own Works
Without the righteousness of Jesus, the only thing left is trusting in our own works. But we know that humans cannot do anything good on their own. Even our best works are described this way:
Isaiah 64:6 — But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
The problem with much of modern Christianity is that most people believe they are good, that there is something good inside them. Righteousness by faith is believing — and coming to the conclusion — that man has nothing good in himself. Jesus said:
John 15:5 — I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.
In fact, legalism is the belief that one can do things without Jesus — which is impossible.
KORAH, DATHAN, ABIRAM REBELLION
Psalm 14:3 — They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one.
The Bible clearly says there is not one good person on earth. The 1888 message of righteousness by faith begins with realizing that we cannot do good, and that even our good deeds, apart from Jesus, are tainted with sin. Unless we have the power of Jesus’ righteousness, all that remains is our own works — and these will never carry us through the gates of the holy city.
2. Righteousness by Faith — Our Works Do Not Save Us
Works do not save us; the law does not save us. The law can point us to our sin, but the law, or obedience to it, does not save us. Doing things does not save. Failing to obey makes us disobedient, yet the works that matter are done by Jesus, not by ourselves.
The law, or obedience to it, does not make you a good person. No one becomes good by obeying — being good is a state of being, and either we are good or we are evil. Since all humans are evil, no human is good on their own.
No matter how much someone obeys, they cannot become good through obedience. The only solution is for someone else who is good to give us a power called righteousness by faith, so that we can become good. This power is righteousness by faith. Our works do not save us. We cannot be saved without works, but our works are not our own — they come from God. There is incredible peace in knowing:
- All humans are evil.
- Humans cannot be saved through works.
- Works do not make someone righteous.
- Only God is good, and only He has the remedy.
KORAH, DATHAN, ABIRAM REBELLION
3. Righteousness by Faith — Without It, We Make Ourselves Gods
The 1888 message of righteousness by faith needs to be spread throughout the world. This is the message that eclipses all other messages. Someone does not even need to be a Christian to fall into this trap — there are plenty of atheists and legalists who believe that by obeying rules, they become good people.
When someone believes that obedience earns them righteousness, they are essentially saying:
- They do not need God.
- They possess divinity.
- The cross of Jesus was worthless.
No one is God — there is only one God who is good. To the rich young man, Jesus said:
Luke 18:18–19 — Why do you call Me good? There is none good but God.
Jesus then told him to obey the commandments. Yet throughout the whole Bible, we discover that man cannot obey through his own strength. When Jesus says “obey the commandments,” the real work of man is to choose. We have the power of choice — to choose God or Satan, to choose evolution or creation, to choose to try to save ourselves or to let God give us His righteousness.
Unless we have God working in us, and ask Him daily, “Father God, please put Your robe of righteousness on me,” we begin to think we are gods — that we are good, that we do not need God, that we are here to impress Him by showing how good we are. All of this is a lie. What is righteousness by faith? It is laying the glory of man into the dust, and showing us both how corrupt we are and how precious and holy God is.
KORAH, DATHAN, ABIRAM REBELLION
4. Righteousness by Faith — Without It, We Are Separated from Jesus
We are separated from Jesus when we believe we can do things to earn heaven. The 1888 message of righteousness by faith was given through A. T. Jones and Waggoner — their writings need to be read often and studied fully and deeply. Then our Christian life will become entirely different, much happier, and far more peaceful, and we will be able to gain entrance into heaven.
When we believe we can gain heaven by ourselves, we render Jesus of no effect, and the cross of Jesus becomes useless — because the cross would be worthless if heaven could be earned by works. Then no remission of sins would mean anything at all.
Galatians 5:4 — Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace.
This is a serious warning in the Bible: those who believe they can save themselves by works are separated from Jesus. What is righteousness by faith? It is realizing that humans are worthless in doing good — even world leaders, the best pastors, the best missionaries. Only God has the solution. Unless we ask Jesus for this gift of righteousness by faith, we are left trying to earn heaven through works.
PASTOR A. T. JONES
5. Righteousness by Faith — Without It, We Will Not Enter Heaven
When someone believes they are good, that their works will impress God and earn them entrance into heaven, they are making themselves into gods — and we know there is only one God. This is pride. It is deeply offensive to God. It is lying to God. It is a protest demanding human worship, and a protest against the cross of Jesus.
No one who believes such things can enter heaven. They make God a liar. And we have seen throughout the Bible that the proud will be destroyed. Either we give glory to God, or we worship ourselves. Legalists worship themselves — they believe humans are good and holy. This reminds me of the story of Moses and the three rebels who said:
Numbers 16:3 — You take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them.
This is the legalist lie — that humans are inherently good. God had to destroy Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, because the real issue was whether God was speaking through Moses. They refused to accept that God was speaking through Moses, because they worshiped humanity and believed themselves to be good. Righteousness by faith is worshiping God, not man.
It is very interesting that when Moses told Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to come the next day to see who was truly called by God, these three men were so deceived, and knew so little about right and wrong, truth and lies, that they actually came expecting God to favor them. The power of deception is incredible, and we must be careful never to worship humans, who are merely dust.
The 1888 message of righteousness by faith, given through A. T. Jones and Waggoner, is the healing remedy for a legalistic church. Repeat after me:
Father God, forgive me for thinking myself to be good and holy. I pray that You give me Your righteousness every day, and that You do good through me. I ask that I may have a daily experience with You. Provide for all my needs, heal me, give me the desires of my heart according to Your will, in the name of Jesus, amen.