 4. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH IN LAST DAYS AND THE CLEANSING OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY
- Those who truly keep commandments in Day of Atonement do so by faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:12.
- Agape-love produces obedience to law by faith. Gal. 5:6; Rom. 13:10.
- We are to "consider" Christ our High Priest as having taken our sinful nature yet not sinning. Heb. 2:9-18 and 3:1, 2, (these
two chapters belong together).
- Christ's work as High Priest bound up with His having taken our sinful nature "yet without sin." Heb. 4:14-16.
- Practical fruit of Christ's High Priestly ministry on Day of Atonement: to prepare a people to demonstrate in sinful flesh
"the righteousness of the law," even as He did "in the likeness of sinful flesh." Rom. 8:3, 4.
- Is not only possible, but certain, that Christ's people will overcome "even as" He overcame. Rev. 3:20, 21.
- Those who so overcome will be His bride. Rev. 19:7-9.
- True justification by faith makes believer obedient to the law of God. Rom. 3:23-31.
- "Curse of the law" is not obedience but disobedience. Gal. 3:10.
- In justification by faith, Christ redeems us from disobedience to the law. Gal 2:16-18; 3:13.
- "The works of the law" not pure obedience, but man's self-centered efforts to obey for a selfish motive, seeking reward
or fearing hell. Such "works" are of unbelief. Heb. 4:10, 11; Phil. 3:9; Rom. 9:31-33.
- Our "own righteousness" is selfish and proud, under the curse, is therefore actual disobedience to the law; "God's
righteousness" is by faith in cross of Christ, destroys pride, changes the heart, and is therefore true obedience to
the law. Rom. 10:20, 21; 3:27, 28, 31; Gal. 3:10, 12-14.
- "Under the law" means under self-centered motivation that minister to pride, hard-heartedness,
self-sufficiency—is
exact opposite of faith, and is the same as being "under sin." Gal. 3:22-26.
- In Greek, to have faith and to believe is same word. New Testament faith defined as a heart-appreciation of the
agape-love of Christ revealed at the cross. Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:10; Gal. 5:6. (Try this definition of faith as you read
Romans and Galatians and the truth will come alive for you).
- Those who truly believe will glory in nothing but cross of Christ. Gal. 6:14; Phil. 3:7-10.
- True gospel is justification by faith; a "perverted" gospel is a counterfeit. Gal. 1:6-11; 2:14-16.
- Three angels' messages are genuine justification by faith in the judgment hour setting; warn against counterfeit. Rev.
14:6-12.
- These messages given in time when "the mystery of God should be finished," "which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory." Rev. 10:7; Col. 1:27.
- The "seventh angel" heralds Day of Atonement ministry. Rev. 11:15-19.
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