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Christ’s
Righteousness Avails
By Ellen G. White
Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in
spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." There is fulness of grace in God,
and we may have His Spirit and power in large measure. Do not feed on the husks
of self-righteousness, but go to the Lord; He has the best robe to put upon
you, and His arms are open to receive you. Christ will say, "Take away the
filthy garments, and clothe him with a change of raiment."
But shall we wait till we feel
that we are cleansed?--No; Christ has promised that "if we confess our sins, He
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." You are proved of God through is Word. You are not to wait
for wonderful emotions before you believe that God has heard you; feeling is
not to be your criterion, for emotions are as changeable as the clouds. You
must have something solid for the foundation of your faith. The word of the
Lord is a word of infinite power, upon which you may rely; and He has said,
"Ask, and ye shall receive." Look to Calvary. Has not Jesus said that He is
your Advocate? Has He not said that if you ask anything in His name, you shall
receive?
You are to come to God as a repenting
sinner, through the name of Jesus, the divine Advocate; to a merciful,
forgiving Father, believing that He will do just as He has promised. Let those
who desire the blessing of God knock, and wait at the throne of mercy with firm
assurance, saying, "For Thou, O Lord, hast said, 'Every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened.'" The Lord longs to have those who seek after God believe in Him who is
able to do all things. He has sought to show us how ready He is to hear and
answer our request by the use of a most familiar and common-place occurrence.
He said, "What man is there of you whom if his son ask bread, will he give him
a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your
Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Christ makes
an appeal to us concerning the willingness of God to help, arguing from the
natural love of the parent for his offspring. What father could turn from his
son who asks bread? And should any one dishonor God by imagining that He will
not respond to the call of His children? Would we think a parent capable of
trifling with his child, and tantalizing him by raising his expectations only
to disappoint them? Will the father promise to give good and nourishing food to
his child, and then give him a stone? If ye then, being human and evil, give
good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven
give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
It is impossible for man to save
himself. Christ's righteousness alone can avail for his salvation, and this is
the gift of God. This is the wedding garment in which you may appear as a
welcome guest at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Let faith take hold of Christ
without delay, and you will be a new creature in Jesus, a light to the world.
Christ is called "The Lord our righteousness." And through faith each one
should say, "The Lord my righteousness." When faith lays hold upon this gift,
the praise of God will be upon our lips, and we shall be able to say, "Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Have you a sense of want in your
soul? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Then this is an evidence
that Christ has wrought upon your heart, and created this sense of need, in
order that He may be sought after to do those things for you through the
endowment of His Holy Spirit which it is impossible for you to do for yourself.
The Lord specifies no conditions except that you hunger for His mercy, desire
His counsel, and long for His love. "Ask!" The asking makes it manifest that
you realize your necessity, and if you ask in faith, you will receive. The Lord
has pledged His word, and it cannot fail. That you feel and know you are a
sinner is sufficient argument in asking for His mercy and compassion. The
conditions upon which you may come to God are, not that you shall be holy, but
that you shall ask Him to cleanse you from all sin, and purify you from all
iniquity. Then why wait longer? Why not take God at His Word, and say,--
"Here, Lord, I give myself to Thee,
'Tis all that I can do."
Published in The
Bible Echo, April 1, 1893.
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|  God's
Word Our Assurance
Christ
Our Righteousness A Morning Talk
Through
Faith Alone Part 1
Through
Faith Alone Part 2
What
Was Secured by the Death of Christ
Seek
Those Things Which are Above Part 1
Seek
Those Things Which are Above Part 2
Christ,
Our Loving Comforter and Restorer
Work
to Show Christ to the World
"Let
Him Take Hold of My Strength"
Ellen
G. White's Last Recorded Letter
The
Joy of Giving
A
New Year's Day Letter
Christ
Our Hope
A
Letter of Comfort and Assurance
Prevailing
Prayer
A
Prayer of Consecration
Help
for the Tempted
God
Will Provide
Christ's
Righteousness Avails
Trusting
Christ
The
Fair Flowers of Promise
How
God’s Love is Manifested, Part 1
How
God’s Love is Manifested, Part 2
"Ye
are Complete in Him," Part 1
"Ye
are Complete in Him," Part 2
"Ye
are Complete in Him," Part 3
"I
Will Give You Rest"
Working
as Christ Worked
A
Life-Changing Experience
The
Character of God Revealed in Christ
What
God Desires Us to Be
God's
Plans the Best
A
Peculiar People
God
With Us
Ask
and it shall be given you, Part 1
Ask
and it shall be given you, Part 2
The
Meaning of God's Pardoning Love, Part 1
The
Meaning of God's Pardoning Love, Part 2
The
Foundation of Our Peace
One
Thing Impossible With God
Windows
Wide Open
The
Only Foundation
Christ
Spans the Gulf of Sin, Part 1
Christ
Spans the Gulf of Sin, Part 2
Homeward
Bound
A
New Year's Day Letter
Asking
to Give
The
Mighty and Inspiring Conflict
God's
Word a Treasure House
True
Success
Little
Things
You May Trust
Him
Hearts
Filled with Thankfullnes to God
Calamities
and God’s Love; Sin, Judgment, and the Shortness of Time
Lord
is Risen
The
Sabbath
Some Thoughts
for the New Year
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