From Sin or From Sinning

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

“From Sin” or “From Sinning”

Let us read some simple statements in the Scriptures concerning the great salvation provided for us:—

“There is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa. 45: 21, 22.

“Jehovah hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the nations. He hath remembered his loving-kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Ps. 98: 2, 3.

“And now saith Jehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength); yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” Isa. 49: 5, 6.

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old), salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, to grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness

before him all our days.” Luke 1: 68-75.

“And he [John the Baptist] came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Luke 3: 3-6.

“And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.” Matt. 1: 21.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Rom. 1: 16.

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father.” Gal. 1: 3, 4.

“Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.” Titus 2: 13, 14.

“But he [Jesus], because he abideth forever, hath his priesthood unchangeable. Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7: 24, 25.

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5: 25-27.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” Rom. 6: 1, 2.

“Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy.” Jude 24.

“These were purchased from among men, to be the first-fruits unto God and unto the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.” Rev. 14: 4, 5.

The testimony of these quotations from the Scriptures is simple and plain. Our God is “a just God and a Saviour.” He promised to give Jesus as his “salvation unto the end of the earth.” The oath which he sware unto Abraham was to the effect that we “being delivered out of the hand of our enemies should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.” The very name, Jesus, is prophetic of his work, meaning “Saviour.” The gospel is the good news of the power of God in Jesus Christ to deliver us from “this present evil world,” and he who gave himself to “redeem us from all iniquity,” “is able to save to the uttermost” because of his continuous intercession in our behalf. He is able to bring us to glory “without blemish,” and to John was given a view of a company who were found “without blemish.”

Much time has been spent in discussing whether it is the purpose of God to save men from sinning, or whether provision has been made for this complete salvation during this present experience of temptation. Whatever the attitude which might have been assumed toward this question in past centuries, it ought to be plain that a people who are prepared for translation must be “without blemish,” and that this experience of being kept from sin and from sinning must be realized before the coming of Jesus to receive his people. The second advent of our Lord is neither the time nor the means of changing character. The decree goes forth, “He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.” The character previously developed is then forever established.

Important instruction upon this subject has been given through the spirit of prophecy. We quote some of it:—

Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost.

We are too easily satisfied with our attainments. We feel rich and increased with goods, and know not that we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Now is the time to heed the admonition of the True Witness: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” . . .

No one need say that his case is hopeless, that he can not live the life of a Christian. Ample provision is made by the death of Christ for every soul. Jesus is our ever-present help in time of need. Only call upon him in faith, and he has promised to hear and answer your petitions. . . . It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted from the world. It is now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we must awake, and make determined effort for symmetry of character. . . .

Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.—Testimony for the Church, No. 31, pages 210-212.

God requires perfection of character, but he has provided for this in the gift of Jesus the perfect One. God requires such a righteousness as can be witnessed by the law and the prophets, but he has provided for this in the gift of Jesus the righteous One. The secret of holiness is in the acceptance of the abundant gifts of God through the exercise of faith in a living Saviour.

It should be remembered that the genuine experience of holiness will never lead to boasting. Humility is the very essence of justification by faith. Those who boast of their holiness, and confidently declare that they have not committed a sin for many years, reveal their own imperfection in this very course of conduct. “When ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.” We may glory in the Lord, and say of him, “He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

“Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”