"I trust in Christ's Righteousness."
By R. F. Cottrell
WHEN we talk of keeping the commandments of God, that we may have right to the tree of life, and especially, when we press the claims of the fourth commandment, we often hear this reply: "I trust in the righteousness of Christ, for present and eternal salvation," thus intimating that we do not trust in Christ, but in our own works for salvation. If we take the word for our guide, there is a perfect harmony between the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; consequently, while we rely solely upon Christ for justification from our "sins that are past," we can at the same time keep the commandments that we may have right to the tree of life. Now, this trusting in Christ's righteousness for pardon for having broken the Sabbath in the past, and also to excuse us for our deliberate intention to continue to break it in the future, is a vain trust indeed, unless it will apply equally as well to the keeping of the other commandments. If this is a good argument to set aside the claims of one of God's commandments, it will apply just as well to the others. Let us try it. You see that wicked man—the profaner of God's name, liar, adulterer, and thief. Perhaps you befriend him by lifting him out of the gutter, and after having warmed him by your fire and refreshed him at your board, and he seems restored to his right mind, you think it a favorable opportunity to impress his mind, with the necessity of reforming his life—of keeping the commandments of God, which he has been breaking, in order that he may be saved. He replies, "I trust in Christ's righteousness for salvation. If I am saved at all, it will be all of grace, free, unmerited grace." This you would not dispute; but perhaps you would ask him if he intended to continue in sin that grace might abound toward him. The argument does not hold good. This excuse for breaking the commandments of God, is not a valid one. The thief must break off from his stealing and keep the eighth commandment, if he will have God's favor and be saved. His trusting in Christ's righteousness will be in vain, unless he obeys Christ, repents of his sins and reforms his life. Oh, how uncharitable! to compare us Christians to thieves! He that steals from man is a thief. And is there not such a thing as robbing God? Every day in the week is his; but he has graciously given man six days, in which to provide for his own wants, but has reserved the seventh to himself. What name shall be given to the act of "taking without liberty" the time that God has expressly reserved to himself, and appropriating it to our own secular and selfish purposes?