Christ Our Righteousness
The Outward Evidence of the Indwelling Righteousness
“Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous within is not hardhearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled, and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory.”-The Review and Herald, June 4, 1895. COR 101.1
“When we accept Christ, good words 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.”-The Review and Herald, Novemebr 4, 1890. COR 101.2
“When we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, we shall have no relish for sin; for Christ will be working with us. We may make mistakes, but we will hate the sin that caused the sufferings of the Son of God.”-The Review and Herald, March 18, 1890. COR 101.3
“When Christ is in the heart, it will be so softened and subdued by love for God and man that fretting, faultfinding, and contention will not exist there. The religion of Christ in the heart will gain for its possessor a complete victory over those passions that are seeking for the mastery.”Testimonies for the Church 4:610. COR 101.4
“When a man is converted to God, a new moral taste is created; and he loves the things that God loves; for his life is bound up by the golden chain of the immutable promises, to the life of Jesus. His heart is drawn out after God. His prayer is, ‘Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.’ In the immutable standard he sees the character of the Redeemer, and knows that though he has sinned, he is not to be saved in his sins, but from his sins; for Jesus is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”-The Review and Herald, June 12, 1892. COR 101.5
Thus it is clear that “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.” Christ becomes not only the “author,” but the “finisher” of our faith. COR 102.1
“As we near the close of time, the current of evil will set more and more decidedly toward perdition. We can be safe only as we hold firmly to the hand of Jesus, constantly looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is our mighty helper.”-The Review and Herald, October 7, 1890. COR 102.2