Rising By Falling

(Gospel Study)

The First Condition of Blessing

`Blessed are THE POOR in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' (Matthew 5:3)

`Happy are they . . . who recognize their spiritual poverty, and feel their need of redemption. The gospel is to be preached to THE POOR. Not to the spiritually proud, those who claim to be rich and in need of nothing, is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One fountain only has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in Spirit.' (DA299-300)

Guilt - A Prerequisite of Acceptance

`Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance.

`If we have not experienced that repentance which is not to be repented of, and have not confessed our sin with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit, abhorring our iniquity, we have never sought truly for the forgiveness of sin; and if we have never sought we have never found the peace of God.' (5T636)

According to Jesus . . . 

`You say, ``I am RICH; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.''

`But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, POOR, blind, and naked.' (Revelation 3:17)

A Sad Deception

`What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness [to Laodicea] finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God.

`While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct.' (3T252-3)

What is Our Great Need Therefore?

We Need To See The King! Then, beholding Him, we will recognise our true spiritual condition - that we are poor indeed.

Jesus said: `I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' (Matthew 9:13)

If Jesus came to call sinners, our first need is to realise that we are sinners - that we are POOR IN SPIRIT.

This is why the call to Laodicea is . . . `be earnest, and REPENT!' (Revelation 3:19)

So Let Stand Humbly Before
The Mirror That Reveals Character

`If you would gather together everything that is good and holy and noble and lovely in man and then present the subject to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as treason ... any works that man can render to God will be far less than nothingness.

`My requests are only made acceptable because they are laid upon Christ's righteousness. The idea of doing anything to merit the grace of pardon is fallacy from beginning to end. "Lord, in my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. Men can achieve no praiseworthy exploits that give him any glory. " (FW24)

Do We Need A Saviour?

`The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing for the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God.' (DA300)

`They need the heavenly eyesalve that they might discern with astonishment the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life.' (FW24)

Do We Need A Saviour?

Now Let Us Behold
The Kind King

`No sin can be committed by man for which satisfaction has not been met on Calvary.' (6BC1071)

`How seldom, by living, acting faith, do we bring into our lives this great truth, that there is forgiveness for the least sin, forgiveness for the greatest sin.' (7BC933)

`There are no sins He will not forgive in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.' (7BC913)

`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.' (SC62)

`The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law, but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account. Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves Him as He loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness. Then the sinner] can say with rejoicing, ``Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.'' (1SM367)

Resting In The Completed Work

`The Lord would have His people sound in the faith - not ignorant of the great salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are not to look forward, thinking that at some future time a great work is to be done for them; FOR THE WORK IS NOW COMPLETE. ` The believer is not called upon to make his peace with God; he never has nor ever can do this. He is to accept Christ as his peace, for with Christ is God and peace.' (1SM394-5)

There are many who seem to feel that they have a great work to do themselves before they can come to Christ for His salvation. They seem to think that Jesus will come in at the very last of their struggle, and give them help by putting the finishing touch to their lifework. It seems difficult for them to understand that Christ is a complete Saviour, and able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him.

`They lose sight of the fact that Christ Himself is "the way, the truth, and the life." When we individually rest upon Christ, with full assurance of faith, trusting ALONE to the efficacy of His blood to cleanse from all sin, we shall have peace in believing that what God has promised He is able to perform....' (3SM181)

`By one sacrifice He has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.' (Hebrews 10:14)

Our Response

`It is a knowledge of Christ as the sin bearer, as the propitiation for our iniquities, that enables us to live a life of holiness. This knowledge is the safeguard for the happiness of the human family.' (1SM264)

`It is the glory of the gospel that it is founded upon the principle of restoring in the fallen race the divine image by a constant manifestation of [God's] benevolence . . . With Christ He gave all the resources of heaven, that nothing might be wanting in the plan for man's uplifting. Here is love - the contemplation of which should fill the soul with inexpressible gratitude! Oh, what love, what matchless love! The contemplation of this love will cleanse the soul from all selfishness. It will lead the disciple to deny self, take up the cross, and follow the Redeemer.' (CH223)

Saved By Faith
But God Judges Our Faith
By Our Works

`My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.' (Revelation 22:12)

Works = The Measure of the Faith That Saves

`Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.' (James 2:18)

Man's Highest Place

`Kneeling in faith at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain.' (SD222)

Highly recommended reading: The free E-Book Absolute Hope