Faith and Works
Repentance a Gift of God
Repentance, as well as forgiveness, is the gift of God through Christ. It is through the influence of the Holy Spirit that we are convicted of sin and feel our need of pardon. None but the contrite are forgiven; but it is the grace of God that makes the heart penitent. He is acquainted with all our weaknesses and infirmities, and He will help us.
FW 38.2
Some who come to God by repentance and confession, and even believe that their sins are forgiven, still fail of claiming, as they should, the promises of God. They do not see that Jesus is an ever-present Saviour; and they are not ready to commit the keeping of their souls to Him, relying upon Him to perfect the work of grace begun in their hearts. While they think they are committing themselves to God, there is a great deal of self-dependence. There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God and partly to themselves. They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against temptation and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him. There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to no purpose; their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus.
FW 38.3
There is need of constant watchfulness and of earnest, loving devotion, but these will come naturally when the soul is kept by the power of God through faith. We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend ourselves to divine favor. We must not trust at all to ourselves or to our good works; but when as erring, sinful beings we come to Christ, we may find rest in His love. God will accept every one that comes to Him trusting wholly in the merits of a crucified Saviour. Love springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust. Every burden is light; for the yoke which Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness. This is walking in the light as Christ is in the light.
FW 38.4
31
FW
Faith and Works
[{"para_id":"31.2","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0003_eng_m_foreword_31_6.mp3#duration=538&size=5462263"},{"para_id":"31.30","title":"Chapter 1\u2014Ellen White Clarifies the Issues","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0004_eng_m_chapter_1_ellen_white_clarifies_the_issues_31_30.mp3#duration=1785&size=17934961"},{"para_id":"31.104","title":"Chapter 2\u2014The Standard of True Sanctification","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0015_eng_m_chapter_2_the_standard_of_true_sanctification_31_104.mp3#duration=630&size=6378629"},{"para_id":"31.133","title":"Chapter 3\u2014Christ Our Righteousness","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0020_eng_m_chapter_3_christ_our_righteousness_31_133.mp3#duration=565&size=5735040"},{"para_id":"31.160","title":"Chapter 4\u2014Ellen White Clearly Draws the Lines","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0024_eng_m_chapter_4_ellen_white_clearly_draws_the_lines_31_160.mp3#duration=752&size=7604779"},{"para_id":"31.197","title":"Chapter 5\u2014Faith and Works","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0029_eng_m_chapter_5_faith_and_works_31_197.mp3#duration=434&size=4422333"},{"para_id":"31.219","title":"Chapter 6\u2014A Warning Against Counterfeit Sanctification","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0032_eng_m_chapter_6_a_warning_against_counterfeit_sanctification_31_219.mp3#duration=426&size=4338372"},{"para_id":"31.241","title":"Chapter 7\u2014How to Tell if God is Leading","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0035_eng_m_chapter_7_how_to_tell_if_god_is_leading_31_241.mp3#duration=250&size=2581945"},{"para_id":"31.256","title":"Chapter 8\u2014God's Commandment-Keeping People","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0037_eng_m_chapter_8_god_s_commandment_keeping_people_31_256.mp3#duration=342&size=3500178"},{"para_id":"31.275","title":"Chapter 9\u2014The Quality of Our Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0038_eng_m_chapter_9_the_quality_of_our_faith_31_275.mp3#duration=2244&size=22521139"},{"para_id":"31.390","title":"Chapter 10\u2014E. G. White Report on Response to the Ottawa Sermon","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0051_eng_m_chapter_10_e_g_white_report_on_response_to_the_ottawa_sermon_31_390.mp3#duration=495&size=5027993"},{"para_id":"31.410","title":"Chapter 11\u2014Obedience and Sanctification","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0053_eng_m_chapter_11_obedience_and_sanctification_31_410.mp3#duration=753&size=7611494"},{"para_id":"31.448","title":"Chapter 12\u2014Appropriating the Righteousness of Christ","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0059_eng_m_chapter_12_appropriating_the_righteousness_of_christ_31_448.mp3#duration=481&size=4894349"},{"para_id":"31.469","title":"Chapter 13\u2014Faith and Works- Hand in Hand","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0062_eng_m_chapter_13_faith_and_works_hand_in_hand_31_469.mp3#duration=371&size=3790479"},{"para_id":"31.488","title":"Chapter 14\u2014The Experience of Righteousness by Faith Outlined","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0066_eng_m_chapter_14_the_experience_of_righteousness_by_faith_outlined_31_488.mp3#duration=504&size=5122597"},{"para_id":"31.509","title":"Chapter 15\u2014This Is Justification by Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0069_eng_m_chapter_15_this_is_justification_by_faith_31_509.mp3#duration=156&size=1641730"},{"para_id":"31.518","title":"Chapter 16\u2014Accepted in Christ","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0070_eng_m_chapter_16_accepted_in_christ_31_518.mp3#duration=575&size=5835744"},{"para_id":"31.545","title":"Chapter 17\u2014Counsel to a Leading Minister on the Presentation of the Relation of Faith and Works","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0073_eng_m_chapter_17_counsel_to_a_leading_minister_on_the_presentation_of_the_relatio_31_545.mp3#duration=327&size=3347648"},{"para_id":"31.561","title":"Chapter 18\u2014Man May Be As Pure in His Sphere As God Is in His","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0075_eng_m_chapter_18_man_may_be_as_pure_in_his_sphere_as_god_is_in_his_31_561.mp3#duration=523&size=5306187"},{"para_id":"31.590","title":"Chapter 19\u2014Opinions and Practices to Be Conformed to God's Word","mp3":"\/mp3\/31\/0080_eng_m_chapter_19_opinions_and_practices_to_be_conformed_to_god_s_word_31_590.mp3#duration=275&size=2827183"}]
