Christ Our Righteousness

Chapter 10 - Restoration Full and Complete Provided

When the sinner enters through the door of faith into the new life in Christ Jesus, he finds that not only has he been pardoned for transgression of the law, but restoration full and complete is provided. Furthermore, provision is made in Christ for the maintenance of that which has been restored. He enters upon a new and higher plane of life, in harmony with the following direction and assurance: COR 95.1

“We must unite with Christ. There is a reservoir of power at our command, and we are not to remain in the dark, cold, sunless cave of unbelief, or we shall not catch the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.”-The Review and Herald, January 24, 1893. COR 95.2

“We must rise above the frosty atmosphere in which we have hitherto lived, and with which Satan would surround our souls, and breathe in the hallowed atmosphere of heaven.”—The Review and Herald, May 6, 1890. COR 95.3

The whole story of redemption and restoration is clearly set forth in the following beautiful statement by the pen of inspiration: COR 95.4

“Through Christ, restoration as well as reconciliation is provided for man. COR 95.5

“The gulf that was made by sin has been spanned by the cross of Calvary. COR 96.1

“A full, complete ransom has been paid by Jesus, by virtue of which the sinner is pardoned, and the justice of the law is maintained. COR 96.2

“All who believe that Christ is the atoning sacrifice may come and receive pardon for their sins; for through the merit of Christ communication has been opened between God and man. COR 96.3

“God can accept me as His child, and I can claim Him and rejoice in Him as my loving Father. COR 96.4

“We must center our hopes of heaven upon Christ alone, because He is our substitute and surety. COR 96.5

“We have transgressed the law of God, and by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. The best efforts that man in his own strength can make, are valueless to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed; but through faith in Christ he may claim the righteousness of the Son of God as all-sufficient. COR 96.6

“Christ satisfied the demands of the law in His human nature. COR 96.7

“He bore the curse of the law for the sinner, made an atonement for him, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. COR 96.8

“Genuine faith appropriates the righteousness of Christ, and the sinner is made an overcomer with Christ; for he is made a partaker of the divine nature, and thus divinity and humanity are combined. COR 96.9

“He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. COR 96.10

“Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his works should not be of himself; Christ should work in him to will and to do of His good pleasure.”-The Review and Herald, July 1, 1890. COR 97.1

Let us carefully review this message which unfolds to the human mind the sublimest facts of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: COR 97.2

1. Restoration full and complete is provided for sinners. The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross not only made our reconciliation with God possible, but it also made possible, for every sinner who may choose to accept the offer, restoration to Adam’s glorious standing before he sinned. COR 97.3

2. The great gulf made by sin, that separates us so far from God and heaven, has been spanned by the cross of Calvary. What cause for praise and adoration! COR 97.4

3. The great problem of pardoning the sinner and at the same time maintaining the justice of God’s holy law has been solved. Christ became our substitute. He took our place, and thus ransomed us from condemnation and death. COR 97.5

4. By His atoning sacrifice, Christ opened communication between God and poor, sinful lost man, so that we can now come to Him and receive pardon, cleansing, and salvation from all sin. COR 97.6

5. Because Christ alone became our substitute and surety, all our hopes center in Him. There is no other name, no other way. COR 97.7

6. Because of man’s transgression of the law, no flesh can ever be justified by the deeds of the law. But through faith in Christ, man may claim the righteousness of Christ as all-sufficient. COR 97.8

7. By appropriating the righteousness of Christ by faith, we are made overcomers with Christ, and thus become partakers of the divine nature. COR 98.1

8. In trying to reach heaven by the works of the law, we are attempting an utter impossibility. COR 98.2

9. While we cannot be saved without obedience, that obedience cannot be of ourselves. It must be Christ’s obedience working in and through us, causing us to will and to do of His good pleasure. COR 98.3