In His Image
God has always spoken a language we
could understand. He even came down personally to explain things to us. As
Christians, we often use terms that are confusing and incomprehensible to those
who are not Christians, such as salvation, washed in the blood, atonement,
propitiation, justification, etc. The real tragedy is that often, we
ourselves do not know what they mean! Yet often we continue to use them
gleefully.
One such term is justification by
faith. It means a lot of things to a lot of people. We have already seen in
a previous lesson that faith in the Bible means to trust. And a
little research will show us that the word translated justice in the
Bible is the same Greek word for righteousness. So justification
or righteousness by faith is simply being put right through
trust.
Let us now read about God's way of
setting us right.
RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
1. What does the Bible say about those in God's
I John 3:3
Zephaniah 3:13
2. The
Saviour was to be called "Jesus" (Hebrew Yeshua, "Iesus" in Greek). Why was he
given this name?
Matthew
1:21
Note: Yeshua means "God (Yah) saves".
Jesus came to save us FROM our sins, not IN them! He separates us from them
through his power. We no longer need to wallow around in the slime of sin and
despair. He can lift us from the lowest
depths to the grandest heights of Heaven.
3. Can it be possible for us to cease sinning?
John 5:14
Jude 24
Note: If it were not possible, Jesus' command in this verse would
simply be mocking us. Jesus is our
example; I Peter 2:21,22 says, "Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow in his steps; Who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth."
If we love the way
Jesus loved, we will also act as he did. Through Jesus, we can be more than
conquerors— Romans
4. What about if I am tempted? Is this a valid excuse for sin?
I Corinthians 10:13
Note: Jesus said that as long as we are "in the world, ye shall have
tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!" John 16:33. God has promised that no matter how bad the temptation, he will
help us. There is no sin or temptation that is too powerful for the Spirit-filled
believer to overcome.
If there was a
temptation too powerful for the Lord to give us victory over, then that would
mean that the devil is more powerful than God. This is absurd! The devils
trembled when they saw Jesus. He cast them out "with a word." He is still able to give us complete victory
over any sin. He will make a "way of escape" for you if you are
willing to let him. read
I Corinthians 10:13.
5. How can we get rid of our sinfulness?
John 1:29
Romans 3:22
Note: Since it is a law of nature that by beholding we are changed, we
can become like Jesus by beholding him and following his example. As we behold
the beauty and holiness of Jesus' character, we will be transformed into the
same image—2 Corinthians 3:18.
Through prayer and
practical daily living, he took ahold of the Father's strength. So may we take
hold of Jesus, Who then does righteousness through us—Galatians
6. What about our thoughts? Can the Holy Spirit even purify them?
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Note: We can pull down Satan's strongholds of temptation and cast down
any evil imaginations. But we must cooperate by following the advice found in Philippians
4:8-9. As the saying goes, "Garbage in = garbage out"! Pure
thoughts in = pure actions out. Choose carefully and the Lord will bless you
with spiritual victories and a holy, Christ-like character.
7. How
are we to behold Christ?
John 17:17
Note: By studying the Word of God and following
its teachings, we become transformed into his likeness (I Peter
8. What
is God's goal in sanctifying our lives?
Romans 8:29
Colossians
3:8-10
Note: We were made in God's image in the
beginning (Genesis
9. How long does it take for a person to be
fully sanctified?
Ephesians
4:13
Note: No one has ever been born a fully mature
adult; we are born as babies and slowly grow to fully matured adults,
physically, mentally and emotionally.
When we accept God's healing love in
our lives, the transformation is called "the new birth". As in our
physical births, we are re-born as spiritual children, who need to grow to
maturity.
It is a great tragedy when a baby is
born, but never grows up. God does not want us to remain spiritual babies
forever. We are to grow up in Christ to become mature spiritual adults—Ephesians
10. Do my
works contribute to my salvation?
Ephesians
2:8,9
11. Then what is the sole basis of my
salvation?
Acts
Note: God gives us the beautiful promise of
what Jesus will do for his remnant Church: "He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap:
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the
sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the
Lord an offering in righteousness." Malachi 3:2,3
12. What means does God use to purify his
people?
I Peter 1:7
I Peter 4:12
Malachi 3:3
Note: In the fires of trial and tribulation,
our characters are refined as gold. Trials only burn off the dross; the pure,
precious gold is not harmed.
13. Then what part do I play in my salvation?
2
Corinthians 8:12
Note: my part is to willingly follow Him. I must allow him to do his
work in purifying my life. He will work miracles, but I must be willing for him
to do it. Read the following comment on
this by E.G. White: "No man can empty himself of self. We can only
consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will
be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it
pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of myself my weak,
unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into
a pure and holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through
my soul. " Christ's Object Lessons, pp.
159,160
14. How hard is it, sometimes, to let Jesus
change my life?
Matthew 5:30
Note: Giving up my own way and letting Jesus
lead is sometimes as hard as cutting off my hand.
15. Then is being a
faithful Christian hard and burdensome?
Matthew 11:28-30
Note: Jesus promises peace, release and rest from the stress,
heartaches, fears, burdens and guilt of life! If we keep our eyes on hm, it
will not be hard and burdensome.
16. If we abide in Christ, what will we not do?
I John 3:6
Note: To abide in Jesus means to spend
time each day with him in prayer, and to study his word which is the bread of
life we are to live by. It means attending church for fellowship whenever God's
people meet for study and worship. In a few more weeks, these lessons will be
over. But your growth in the Lord must not end there! You must continue to
"grow in grace and knowledge." Attending prayer meeting each week is
important. Faithfully attend Sabbath school and church service each week, and
do your Sabbath school lesson each day. Read the Spirit of Prophecy books, and
have a planned devotional time each day. If you do these things, you will never
fail! See 2 Peter 1:3-11.
17. Who will give you the power to walk in the
way of holiness?
2
Corinthians 6:16
18. Do we need to cooperate with Jesus in
keeping ourselves pure?
I John 3:3
Romans
6:11-12
Note: We are told to NOT LET sin reign
in us, and we are to reckon ourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned.
This takes daily conscious effort on our part to surrender ourselves to the
Lord each and every day. Paul said, "I die daily"—I Corinthians
15:31
19. What will the Lord give us power to
"will and to do"?
Philippians
2:13
Note: He is the One who will give us the power
we need not only to DO His will, but even to WANT ("to will") to do
His will! Victory over sin comes only through knowing Jesus and the power of
His resurrection and His ongoing ministry for us in the Heavenly Tabernacle
CONCLUSION
"Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling, and
to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence... be glory,
majesty, might and authority, from all ages past, and now, and forever and
ever! Amen." Jude
24
Righteousness by faith simply means
that God can and will completely heal all who trust him.
Based on the more than adequate
evidence of God's absolute trustworthiness, do you choose to allow the heavenly
physician perform his "heart surgery"?
My response to Christ is:______________________________