Fulfilling Righteousness

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 2, 1908

Fulfilling Righteousness

Let us regard it as settled, once and for all, that righteousness is an absolutely free gift, that it can neither be purchased nor paid for, and that it can not be secured by good works or works of any kind. Forgiveness is a gift, grace is a gift, righteousness is a gift, life is a gift—everything pertaining to salvation is a gift. “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” “A gift ceases to be a gift as soon as any return, no matter how small, is made for it. A gift must be received without money and without price, or it is robbed of the character of a gift.”

We now desire to refer to the result of receiving righteousness as a gift. The gift of righteousness is inseparable from the gift of Christ, and Christ is our life. When Christ is received as our righteousness and abides in the heart by faith, a change will appear in the manifested life. “The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in his followers.”

The purpose of the gift of Christ was that there might be a transformation of character. “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: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” “Ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” “He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” But all this does not secure righteousness nor pay for righteousness; it is the manifested result of receiving righteousness as a free gift through faith in Christ.

It is quite possible, however, to have a perfectly correct theory concerning the Scriptural way of obtaining righteousness, and yet not to manifest in the life the fruits of righteousness. It is easier to correct other people’s theology than to live a correct life. And one who lives up to all the light he has, may put to shame by his manner of life another who has seen great light, but has a greater burden to point out the mistakes in the theology of others concerning righteousness by faith than to reveal in his own life the works of righteousness.

It is a nice thing to keep an even balance in our experience and in our teaching, and not to substitute a theory of the truth for the manifestation of the truth. It brings a reproach upon a correct theory of salvation from sin when one who preaches it eloquently either commits open sin or by condoning sin in others becomes a partaker of the sin with them. Men would rather see an outward righteousness by works than constantly to hear about a righteousness by faith which is made an excuse for sin. “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?” or dost thou defend the course of others who steal? “Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?” or dost thou condone the guilt of others who commit adultery? A man whose brain is befuddled with drink, and whose tongue is thick, may make a good temperance speech, but it only wounds the temperance cause.

Men are needed now who will both preach righteousness according to the Scriptures and in whom the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled. Such a preacher of righteousness was Noah, and therefore the ark was built, through which “he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”