VICTORY IN CHRIST – CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Presented at the 2nd Mind of Christ Ministries Bible seminar

By Thaddeus Kaweesi

1Cor 1:24, Col 1:28

Introduction● “The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious

message to His people through Elder Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted savior....It presented justification through faith in surety. It invited people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God” Testimonies to ministers, 91-92

● According to Spiritual gift Vol 2 pg 226, this message was to prepare God's people for translation

● Fate of A.T. Jones and other brothers...

● Who will be translated and what are their characteristics? Rev 14:1-5

Everlasting Gospel● Rev 14:6

● What is the bible definition of the gospel? Rom 1:16-17

● Power of God. Eph 1:17-19. 1 Cor 1:24

● Condition of experiencing this power? Rom 1:16, Eph 1:19

● “Men acknowledge Christ in History while they turn away from the living Christ” Desire of Ages Pg 56

● The Christ who paid our ransom is the Christ who promised to give us total victory over sin and also deliver us from the presence of sin

● 1 John 3:1-3, 6,9 1 Cor 15:34

● The story of “impossibility” - Math 14:23-31

● The christian is considered perfect when, through the imparted righteousness of Christ, he reaches the place where he doesn’t sin, even by a thought. Such a one through the divine power supplied him, has reached the highest goal of perfection attainable in this life. At the close of probation, everyone of the living saints will by God's grace, have achieved this level of spirituality.

● “Not even by a thought could our savior be brought to yield to the power of temptation....this is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble” Great Controversy 623

● 1 Peter 4:1-2

The Secret● If Christ had the same nature like we have, How is it

that He didn't sin even by thought.

● The manifestation of Father. John 14:9-10

● The way our Lord overcame, the same way we overcome (Rev 3:21)

● How? - Manifestation of Lord. John 14:16,17,19-20,21-23

● “Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He has made provisions that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul to keep him from sinning” Desire of ages pg 311

The Union • Divinity + Humanity = Victory● “In Christ, divinity and humanity were combined. Divinity

was not degraded to humanity; divinity held its place, but humanity by being united to divinity, withstood the fiercest test of temptation in the wilderness” Review and Herald, Feb 18, 1890

● To live we must die – The case of Paul. Gal 2:20

● Our only hope of salvation is to have the Savior residing in our heart all the time – not spasmodically.

● Revisit 1 John 3:9 (cannot sin-condition) - 1 John 5:18

● How can we keep our self? - Abiding + obedience(1 John 3:24, John 15:9-10, Eph 3:14-19)

Obedience through love not fear • John 15:9-10 – The love relationship• Lesson from Joseph – Gen 39:7-9

• “The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely-because he is required to do so-will never enter into the joy of obedience. He doesn’t obey....True obedience is the outworking of a principle within it springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God”. Christ object lesson 96-98

• For the joy set before us – Heb 12:1-2• Rather to die than to commit known sin

Striving against Sin • Heb 12:4 – the battle against self - Gethsemane• Brothers and sisters, we have a part to play in the victory

over sin. God gave all of us choice. Everyday we exercise that choice. But choice is governed by will, controlled by mind.

• “The will is the governing power in the nature of man. If the will is set right. All the rest of the being will come under its sway. The will is not the taste or the inclination but is the choice, the deciding power, which works in the children of men unto obedience to God or disobedience” Temperance 113

• “As soon as we consent to give sin up, to acknowledge our guilt, the barrier is removed between the soul and the savior” Selected Msg Bk1 325

• “When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will, and your character is transformed to be like Christ's character”.Test V 5,515

• The body is to be brought into subjection. The higher power of the being are to rule. The passions are to be controlled by the will which itself should be under control of God the kingly power of reason, sanctified by divine grace, is to bear sway in our lives.

• What are the higher powers? - reason,conscience, will

• “Christ will give strength to all who seek it. No man without his own consent can be overcome by Satan The tempter has no power to control the will or to force the soul to sin.The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His followers with courage to fight manfully the battle against sin and Satan” GC 510

• 2 Cor 10:5 + John17:17

Faith of/in Jesus Christ● Key to victory over sin is faith. (1 John 5:4)● According to the definition, Faith is a substance of thing

hope for,the evidence of things not seen

● “Every failure on the part of the Children of God is due to their lack of faith” Patriarch and prophets, 657

● Faith of Jesus Christ (Gal 2:20, Rev 14:12)

● Faith in Jesus Christ and the two conditions: Beginning to sink – Math 14:27-31● In many cases Christians fall/sin due to lack of

watchfulness. The least deviation from principle leads to separation from God. One step in a wrong direction prepares for another

Faith of/in Jesus Christ● Victorious christian living is a day-by-day, moment by

moment walking with Jesus. Victory today in no wise guarantees victory tomorrow.

Sunk in Sin● Comparing Man of Rom 7 and Gal 2:20 1 Cor 15:31● There are christian struggling with secret sin, addiction

and as a result are slaves to another master other than Christ

● Freedom from Sin – John 8:33-36● In battle with sin, many fight a losing battle by fighting

in flesh.

● “Man cannot transform himself by exercise of his will.

He possesses no power by which this change can be effected....there are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become christian, but they are beginning in the wrong place” Christ Object lesson 96-97

● In such conditions, a struggling sinner weakens further because they draw their eyes away from Christ and focus on themselves, their weakness and pledges.

● Victory through faith in Christ – Micah 7:7-9, Jer 23:6

Can I claim perfection? • 1 Kings 14:8 – To do only which was right in mine

eyes.• Consider 2 Samuel 11:2-4 ,

• The life of David was full of contrition, repentance and heart searching and holding onto God. - Ps 19:13-14

• If there be any wicked way in me – a cry. Ps 139:23-24

• Could David claim perfection? “done only right in God's eye”

• There is no place for self sufficiency this side of

heaven for the people of God. Consider God's testimony for Job. Job 1:1 vs Job 9:20,21

•

• “True sanctification is an entire conformity to the will of God. Rebellious thoughts and feeling are overcome and voice of Jesus awakens a new life, which pervades the entire being...Thus it will be with all who are walking in humility, distrustful of self, but clinging tremblingly to the hand of Christ” Sanctified life pg 9,11

• Why cling tremblingly in the hand of Christ?

• “The closer you come to Jesus the more faulty you will appear in your eyes. For your vision will be cleared and your imperfection will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is the evidence that Satan’s delusion have lost their power” Step to Christ 64,65

The finished mystery • Before the last trumpet, the mystery of God must be

finished. Rev 10:7, 11:15

• What is the mystery of God – Col 1:27-28• Sounding the seventh trumpet depends on Act 3:19-21

which depends on the fulfillment of the mystery of God among his people – ready for translation – Lord our righteousness (Jer 23:6)

• “when the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own” Christ object lesson 69

Conclusion • 1Thess 5:23,24 – Phil 4:13 – Jude 24

• When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him, we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.

• Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig -leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of God.