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How can there be hope for me, I killed a man, and I have been party to evil for decades. How can God possibly forgive me?

Please do not be discouraged, for “our Redeemer has opened the way so that the most sinful, the most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father.” Thanks to God’s gracious intervention, “no sin can be committed by man for which satisfaction has not been met on Calvary.” Please rest assured, therefore, that “there is forgiveness for the least sin, forgiveness for the greatest sin.” (DA113.2; 6BC1071.6; 7BC933.2)

That really does sound encouraging, but I still cannot see how someone like me can ever come up to the standard of God’s holy law?

“Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God.” This is why “the best efforts that man in his own strength can make, are valueless to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed.” (SC62.2; 1SM363.3)

But we do have a wonderful Saviour and, thanks to Him, every soul who seeks salvation may say, “by His [Jesus’] perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent.'' (1SM396.1)

So you mean to tell me that Jesus kept the law on my behalf, and that God the Father now considers His obedience as though it is my obedience? Surely the good news cannot be that good?

It is indeed. You see, “if you give yourself to Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake (1) you are accounted righteous. (2) Christ's character stands in place of your character, and (3) you are accepted before God as if you had not sinned.” (SC62.2)

Are you saying that all I have to do is to ask that Jesus’ blood should cover my sinfulness, and then God will consider that His character has always been my character? To be quite honest, that does sound a little far fetched.

Yes, but it is altogether true, for “the moment the sinner believes in Christ, he stands in the sight of God uncondemned; for the righteousness of Christ is His: Christ's perfect obedience is imputed to him.” (FE429.3)

Then, from that moment, “The Father beholds not your faulty character, but He sees you as clothed” in Jesus’ perfection. (DA357.1)

You mean, this all takes place from the moment that my faith flickers to life; from the moment that I cry out to God for help?

Precisely! “The moment true faith in the merits of the costly atoning sacrifice is exercised, claiming Christ as a personal Saviour, that moment the sinner is justified before God, because he is pardoned.” (3SM195.2)

That is truly amazing - and very encouraging - but what exactly do you mean by the term “justified.”

When God justifies us, he grants us (1) a full and complete pardon for sin - regardless of our past, (2) He declares before the universe that we are perfectly righteous, and (3) He announces to all of creation that we always have been perfectly righteous. (6BC1071.8; 1SM392.2)

That is remarkable indeed, but again I find myself asking, Can the good news be so very good? Can God really treat a sinner as though He is righteous?

He surely can. In fact, this truth lay at the very heart of the Protestant reformation. It was Martin Luther himself who coined the phrase “simul justus et peccator,” which is translated “simultaneously righteous and yet a sinner.” You will appreciate, therefore, that the reformation was founded on the fact that “in ourselves we are sinners; but in Christ we are righteous. Having made us righteous through the imputed righteousness of Christ, God pronounces us just, and treats us as just, [and] He looks upon us as His dear children.” (1SM394.1)

What grace, what absolutely amazing grace, but just what is meant by the term, “the imputed righteousness of Christ?”

In order to appreciate the full meaning of this term, let us recap a little: “Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by His Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father saying, `This is My child, I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him my life-insurance policy - eternal life - because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even my beloved son.’ Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness, stands faultless before God. The sinner may err, but he is not cast off without mercy. His only hope however is in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Father's prerogative [privilege] to forgive our transgressions and sins, because Christ has taken upon Himself our guilt and reprieved us, imputing to us [putting to our account] His own righteousness.” (6BC1070.7)

It was in this context that the writer to the Hebrews once wrote: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14 NKJV)

Does this mean that the sinner’s only hope of attaining righteousness is through trusting and believing in Jesus? 

Precisely! “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 (1) the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account. (2) Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and (3) God receives, (4) pardons, (5) justifies the repentant, believing soul, (6) treats him as though he were righteous, and (7) loves him as he loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness.” (1SM367.1)

But surely my good deeds must play at least some part in this saving transaction?

Not in the least. In fact, “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. [Our] requests are made acceptable only 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.” (FW24.1-2)

This is why “faith claims nothing for its possessor because of his righteousness, but claims everything because of the righteousness of Christ.” (ST 11-24-90.7)

Amazing! Now I can better relate to the words of the hymn, "Lord, in my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling." Yet some people seem to be so holy?  Surely these “holy” people have at least some righteousness that is acceptable to God?

Not at all! You see, “many are deceived concerning the condition of their hearts. They do not realize that the natural heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. They wrap themselves about with their own righteousness and are satisfied in reaching their own human standard of character. [But man] has nothing of his own but what is tainted and corrupted, polluted with sin, utterly repulsive to a pure and holy God. Apart from Christ, we have no merit, no righteousness. Our sinfulness, our weakness, our human imperfection make it impossible that we should appear before God.” (1SM320.1, 342.4, 333.2)

Yet “this matter is so dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend upon their own works.” (6BC1071.5)

Our great need, therefore, is to realize the worthlessness of our works and to acknowledge our guilt, for “those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance.” (SC37.4)

The absolute truth assures us that a man is not received by God on the strength of his own righteousness; on the contrary, “a man is received by God just as soon as he realizes that he has nothing in himself that will gain salvation. When he loses all confidence in anything he has done or can do to save himself, when he gives himself up to be saved by Christ, he shows that he appreciates the sacrifice made in his behalf, that he has confidence to commit the keeping of his soul to God.” (1SAT218.1)

These are humbling thoughts indeed, and yet I am greatly encouraged by the fact that we are not saved by our own righteousness, but by Jesus’ righteousness alone.

Yes, we all have to come to this realization, and this is why “the Lord would have His people sound in the faith. 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.” (1SM394.3)

I beg your pardon. Did you say that the work for our salvation is complete? How can that possibly be?

The sad truth is that “there are many who claim to be children of God who are resting their hopes upon other dependencies, rather than on the blood of Christ alone. When urged to rest their faith wholly upon Christ as a complete Saviour, many reveal the fact that they have faith in something that they think they can do. They say, `I have a great deal to do before I can be fit to come to Christ.’ Another says, `When I have done to the uttermost all that I can do, then the Lord Jesus will come to my help.’ They imagine that they have a great deal to do themselves to save their own souls, and that Jesus will come in and piece out that part which is lacking, and give the finishing stroke to their salvation. These poor souls will not be strong in God until they accept Christ as a complete Saviour. They can add nothing to their salvation.” (SD227.3)

Let’s consider the thief who was crucified with Jesus as an extreme example. When He accepted Jesus as His Saviour, his hands and feet were firmly nailed to the cross and, as such, he could not have performed any good works. Yet Jesus promised him a place in the kingdom.

We have to realise, therefore, that there is simply no place in God’s salvation plan for human pride, or for human achievement. “Kneeling in faith at the cross, [we have] reached the highest place to which man can attain.” We can rise no higher. (SD222.4)

But if this is the case, then how will we ever make it through the judgment?

The good news assures us that the believer may contemplate the judgment with utmost confidence, for Jesus will not only serve as our Judge, and as our Advocate, but He will even stand in our place in the box of the accused.

We can find great comfort, therefore, knowing that He “is our Advocate; He is our friend at court. [We can] lean on His almighty arm, and go on our way rejoicing, making melody in our hearts unto the Lord.” (5MR13.2)

We can also be greatly encouraged for “He has never lost a case that has been committed to Him” and, as such, “we may trust in our Advocate; for He pleads His own merits in our behalf.” “By virtue” of His atoning blood, “the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven.” (RH, Aug. 15, 1893.7; PP357.6)

Hence the promise of Jesus: “He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24 NASB)

Are you saying that for believers eternal life has already begun? Are you saying that in the judgment Jesus will stand in our place and present His merits as though they are our merits? No wonder they call this "the good news." In the light of His gracious dealings with us, I fail to understand why so many find it so hard to accept Jesus as their Friend and Saviour?

The real difficulty often lies in the fact that before we can appreciate Jesus and His righteousness, we have to understand and accept that we have no righteousness of our own, and that it is His righteousness alone that saves us.

This, in fact, is where many stumble. Yet “all who will give up their hope of paying for their salvation, or earning it, and will come to Jesus just as they are, unworthy, sinful, and fall upon His merits, holding in their plea the pledged word of God to pardon the transgressor of His law, confessing their sins and seeking pardon, will find full and free salvation.” (7ABC468.3)

Does this mean, therefore, that our works are of no importance whatsoever, and that our characters can stay as they are?

Not at all! The fact of the matter is that our sanctification is the very purpose of our justification. You see, God surely knows that we cannot change ourselves, and that we can only be changed by the Holy Spirit when we enter into loving relationship with Him. This is why He has showered His love and His grace upon us - that we will be attracted to Him, that we will be drawn closer to Him, and that we will be inspired to search for a deeper knowledge of Him.

Then, “in looking to Christ, we shall see that His love is without a parallel, that He has taken the place of the guilty sinner, and has imputed unto him His spotless righteousness. When the sinner sees his Saviour dying upon the cross under the curse of sin in his stead, beholding His pardoning love, love awakes in the heart. The sinner loves Christ, because Christ has first loved Him, and love is the fulfilling of the law.” (1SM374.2)

Thus we are changed, not by strenuous efforts to suppress our desires or our passions, but getting to know Him, by beholding Him, and by spending meaningful time alone with Him every day. It is just as simple as that.

Are you saying, therefore, that we do not change in order to be saved, but rather because we are saved?

Precisely! This is why Paul tells us that God (1) “has saved us” and (2) “called us to a holy life.” First comes the saving transaction, then comes the sanctification; first comes the justification, then comes the changing of our characters. (2 Timothy 1:8-9 NIV, also see Isaiah 44:22)

Yes, I guess it would have to be in that order, failing which there would be no hope for the thief on the cross. Yet many people do not seem to realise this.

That is correct, and this is why “many are losing the right way, in consequence of thinking that they must climb to heaven, that they must do something to merit the favor of God. They seek to make themselves better by their own unaided efforts. This they can never accomplish. Christ has made the way by dying our sacrifice, by living our example, by becoming our great high priest. He declares, `I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ (John 14:6). If by any effort of our own we could advance one step toward the ladder, the words of Christ would not be true. But when we accept Christ, good works will appear as fruitful evidence that we are in the way of life, that Christ is our way, and that we are treading the true path that leads to heaven.”  (FW102.1)

Please bear in mind, however, that our works are only the fruit of faith and, as such, they do not and cannot save us, but they do reveal that we possess the faith that saves us.

This all sounds so incredibly easy, and it is all so very inspiring, but what can I do about all of my weaknesses and failings?

The truth is that “we shall not gain a particle of strength by dwelling on the discouragements. By beholding we become changed. As we look in faith to Jesus, His image is engraven on the heart. We are transformed in character.” (1NL142.4)

That is why our primary focus must be on Him, and not on our failings, for “it is by beholding His love, by dwelling upon it, by drinking it in, that we are to become partakers of the divine nature. What food is to the body, Christ must be to the soul. Food cannot benefit us unless we eat it, unless it becomes a part of our being. So Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour. A theoretical knowledge will do us no good. We must feed upon Him, receive Him into the heart, so that His life becomes our life. His love, His grace, must be assimilated.” (DA389.3)

“Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities and the difficulties of this life, and fix them on Him, that by beholding we may be changed into His likeness.” (7BC970.9)

Thank you so much for sharing this with me. What a God we serve! What you have told me has filled me with a deep sense of hope and peace and joy.

Yes, our hope grows out of the fact that “God accepts humanity in the person of His Son;” our peace comes from knowing that “the punishment that brought our peace was upon Him;” and our joy is rooted in the knowledge that “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.” (DA111.6; Isaiah 53:5; 1SM394.3)

My prayer, therefore, is that “the God of hope [will] fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NASB)

I must say that Jesus sounds like a really wonderful Friend. I cannot wait to get to know Him better. How can I not love One who would sooner die than live without me? How can I refuse all of these incredible gifts when all that is expected of me is to ask for the Gift, to accept Him as my Friend and Saviour, and to bask in His love?

Yes, “what love, what matchless love, that, sinners and aliens as we are, we may be brought back to God and be adopted into His family!” (5T739.3)

And now we “may rejoice in the sense of sins forgiven, in the love of a pardoning heavenly Father who has encircled sinful, repentant human beings in the arms of His love, bound up our wounds, cleansed us from sin, and clothed us with the garments of salvation.” (PK668.3)

`Through His sacrifice, human beings may reach the high ideal set before them, and hear at last the words, "Ye are complete in him," not having your own righteousness, but the righteousness that He wrought out for you. Your imperfection is no longer seen; for you are clothed with the robe of Christ's perfection.' (7BC907.7)

“O Precious, loving, long-suffering, long-forbearing Jesus, how my soul adores thee! That a poor, unworthy, sin-polluted soul can stand before the Holy God, complete in the righteousness of our Substitute and Surety!” (UL377.3)

THE END

If you would like to study the gospel in greater depth, please see the feature, “How Can I Live Forever?"

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