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Faith and Works

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 45, No. 11.

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Faith and Works.

By C. P. Whitford

A RELATIVE with whom I have had correspondence remarks that “it is by faith we are saved, and not by deeds of the old Jewish law,” and also adds that Abraham was justified by faith, and not by works. We admit that Abraham was justified by faith. But, query, Did his faith free him from obedience to the law of God, as our friend claims that faith now frees us? Let the Lord answer: “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Gen. 26:5. By this we learn that God accepted his faith, because he obeyed him and kept his laws. In Gal. 3:29, we read, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Every Christian of course claims to be Christ’s. Whoever, then, is Christ’s, Paul says is a child of Abraham. Thus we claim that all Christians are Abraham’s children.
Now listen to the declaration of Jesus, John 8:39: “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” Did Abraham keep all the law and commandments of God? He did. “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Paul says that all Christians are Abraham’s children. Jesus says that if they were Abraham’s children, they would do the works of Abraham; and the Lord says that Abraham kept all his commandments.
Therefore, the conclusion is unavoidable that Christians are bound to keep the same law that Abraham kept. The gospel undertakes to create in men the righteous character which the law demands. When the gospel has finished its work, it steps out, and all men pass into the hands of the law. Then the cases of all are examined to see if they are just in God’s sight. Now a second justification becomes necessary. If men are now what God’s law demands, they are pronounced just; if they are not, they are condemned. Men are justified therefore in the Judgment, by virtue of what they really are. It is thus that the doers of the law are to be justified. God will save in his kingdom simply those who are just what his law demands that they should be. How great then the preparation for the Judgment.
C. P. WHITFORD.
Berkshire, Vt., Feb. 26, 1875.