An Encouraging Outlook
By Editor
Those who have the spiritual perception to recognize God’s leading and working may now perceive plain indications that divine Providence is guarding this advent movement. The assurance that there would be a resurrection of the long-dormant energies of this people, and that there would be a bestowal in large measure of divine power for the carrying forward of this work, is already beginning to be fulfilled, and renewed hope and courage are springing up in hearts which had become almost despondent. Reports of an encouraging nature are being sent in from distant fields, and the home conferences in an increasing number are recognizing and accepting their responsibility to divide their resources with the weaker conferences and mission fields. Furthermore, it is being demonstrated that this advent message is not to follow in the experience of all the other churches, and its foundation principles be perverted by the specious teachings of a false philosophy—a mere variation of the higher criticism. The fundamental truths of this message, and especially the truth of the sanctuary and its services as it has been taught in this movement for over fifty years, can not be overthrown by the reasonings of “science falsely so called.” The essential doctrines of this message will stand out with greater clearness, and their scriptural foundation will be set forth more plainly than ever as the result of this effort to introduce “a great reformation” which would consist “in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization.” In all this there is ground for encouragement. “The Lord will put new, vital force into his work as human agencies obey the command to go forth and proclaim the truth. He who declared that his truth would shine forever will proclaim this truth through faithful messengers, who will give the trumpet a certain sound. The truth will be criticized, scorned, and derided; but the closer it is examined and tested, the brighter it will shine.” Those who have waited long for the consummation of their hopes may take new courage. The Lord is setting his hand to recover the remnant of his people. We have been in the time of the loud cry of this message for a good many years, and the loud cry will soon be heard. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” “Be strong and of a good courage.” There is an imputed righteousness, and there is an imparted righteousness. To every one who truly believes in Jesus, the perfect character of the well-beloved Son, his perfect righteousness, is imputed just as soon as he believes, and he is saved by the grace of Christ. But in the experience of every Christian this imputed righteousness must become imparted righteousness. The character of Christ must be wrought out as the character of the believer, a righteousness which will be “witnessed by the law and the prophets.” This is the proof of the genuineness of the experience of imputed righteousness. This marks the difference between the religion of the true gospel of Christ and a mere sentimentalism,—between professing and possessing. These principles are clearly stated in the following extract: “We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now he offers to take our sins and give us his righteousness. If you give yourself to him, and accept him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for his sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. More than this, Christ changes the heart; he abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to him; and so long as you do this, he will work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure. So you may say, ‘The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.’ So Jesus said to his disciples, ‘It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.’ Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same works,—works of righteousness, obedience. . . . Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by his Spirit working in and through us.” “My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”