VICTORY IN CHRISTIAN WARFARE
(Second Edition)
CHAPTER 9 The Final Battle: The Way to Victory
We can say of ourselves according to the word of God, the Bible, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. You who are justified are now “reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. You are now in right standing before God.
Now comes the next phase of your salvation which is “sanctification” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and it is a lifelong process. This next phase occurs immediately after the moment we are justified by God. This phase is the second and final battle that the individual is called by God to fight and to win according to God’s battle plan, the Bible.
In the School of Christ
Those who have been justified are now enrolled by God in the heavenly school of Christ where they are under God’s training. The school of Christ is an invisible, spiritual school. Speaking of these heavenly students, God says, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir” (Isaiah 13:12), where Ophir was a land renowned for its gold.
It is Christ who through “the word of God…effectually worketh…in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) in order “to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Colossians 1:22) to God. So, at the end of the process of sanctification then, you are among those of whom God says “[He] keepeth the law.” Proverbs 28:7. This is true Bible sanctification.
God’s Purpose in Our Sanctification
Now “the flesh lusteth [wars] against the [Holy] Spirit, and the [Holy] Spirit [wars] against the flesh [the sinful nature]: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. You who are justified now have two natures which are in conflict with each other, just like it was in Jesus Christ—the sinful nature, known as the flesh, with which you were born and the divine nature which was implanted in you by Christ through the Holy Spirit.
“The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous.” Psalm 11:4, 5. “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?” Job 7:17, 18.
God tests all humanity to see if they will turn from their sins, that is, to see if they will repent and go on to be justified by God. Only those who are already justified are “being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:16. Sanctification then, is God’s testing of the justified individual to see which of their two natures which are in conflict with each other will have supremacy—the sinful nature or the divine nature.
God wishes to prove to the onlooking universe that we who are justified will not choose to sin under any circumstance just like Jesus Christ chose not to sin. Hence, we will be found, like Jesus, to be “yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. Only then will we have a character of love that makes it safe for God to save us and take us to heaven, for then throughout all eternity future we will not fall into sin like Satan and his evil angels did.
Speaking of Himself, God says, “He [God] will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9. After the end of the great controversy, sin will never arise again, a second time, in the universe. In this way, God would have ensured the future happiness of all his created intelligences throughout all eternity future.
Steps to Our Sanctification
God says, “As for the pure, his work is right.” Proverbs 21:8. How can we become pure? God says, “I am the LORD which sanctify you” (Leviticus 20:8), which is to be made pure and holy by God. We will now look at the steps you who are justified must take in order to be “sanctified.” John 17:19. These steps are repeated over and over again throughout our lifetime, if we do not rebel against God in the process, until we are cleansed from all sin.
God Reveals Our Defects of Character
Sanctification is a lifelong process in which God, by His providence, allows us to come into circumstances by which means we are “in all points tempted like as” (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus Christ Himself was tempted. Now then, “let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” James 1:13.
But God permits us to come into circumstances whereby the defects of our sinful nature, which is in conflict with the divine nature of the justified, become apparent to us. For “every way of a [natural] man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2. All humanity then are born as the “generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Proverbs 30:12.
God says of all humanity, “Who can understand his errors?” (Psalm 19:12), which is to say, “Who can understand the defects of his sinful nature?” Of ourselves, we cannot see our faults. In light of this, God says, “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” Psalm 25:12. God Himself chooses the means by which “God shall reveal even this unto…[us]” (Philippians 3:15), even our defects of character through the errors of our sinful nature.
The Role of the Law
In bringing us into various circumstances by His providence, Christ, through the Holy Spirit, admonishes us, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass [mirror]: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James 1:22-25.
The law is like a mirror, a perfect representation of Christ’s character of love. By our looking into this mirror, Christ working through the Holy Spirit, causes us perceive the defects of our sinful nature. In other words, by looking into the mirror, we compare ourselves with Christ’s character which is in accordance with God’s law of love, “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), such that the character flaws of our sinful nature stand revealed in our sight.
Christ, who is a perfect representation of God’s law of love, is our Example and so, it is Christ with whom we are to compare ourselves. For God says we should be such that “we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12.
Prayer
Prayer is the means of communication between our finite minds and the mind of God, the Infinite One. By prayer, we come into the audience chamber of God and receive God’s undivided attention as if there were not any other beings in the whole universe. Prayer helps to mend the broken relationship between God and all humanity by re-establishing our communion with God. Prayer is absolutely essential to our salvation. It cannot be dispensed with and we still be saved.
Now having perceived the defects of our sinful nature, we may pray, in accordance with the word of God, the Bible, saying, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting [sitting down] and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest [discern] my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:1-4.
Praying, we should say, you are God who “knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for…[you] knew what was in man.” John 2:24, 25. Therefore, in response to God’s revealing of our character flaws, we should pray to God saying, in truth, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity [wickedness] have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Psalm 32:5.
Self-Denial
Christ says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23. This statement of Christ means that the formation of a right character, a character of love, is first and foremost, achieved by self-denial, by denying the natural inclinations of the sinful nature. This is the goal of our sanctification.
By revealing our character flaws to us, God causes the conscientious individual to deny self and to “flee these things; and [to] follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1 Timothy 6:11. Such a justified individual, guided by “a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:5) which was fashioned by the “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) implanted in them by God, will pray earnestly to God for help.
They will pray to God saying, in accordance with the word of God, the Bible, “Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression [sin].” Psalm 19:12, 13.
Moreover, by denying self, the language of our hearts will be, “I esteem all thy precepts” (Psalm 119:128), all your moral principles, “concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:128. “Lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:24. “Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts” (Psalm 119:173), I have chosen your moral principles.
“I have chosen the way of truth.” Psalm 119:30. “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live” (Psalm 119:116), eternally: “and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” Psalm 119:116. “Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalm 17:5.
You can never be successful in elevating yourself in God’s sight, unless your will is on the side of Christ, cooperating with the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. Do not feel that you cannot, but say, “I can overcome sin, I will overcome sin.” In this way, you deny self, you deny your evil inclinations. God has pledged His Holy Spirit to help you in every decided effort on your part.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. God cannot save any person against his will, from the power of Satan devices. Each person must work with his human power, aided by Christ’s divine power, to resist Satan and to conquer at any cost to themselves. In short, each person must overcome sin in the same way that Christ overcame sin.
In other words, each person must do their part. They must be a victor over Satan on their own account, through the strength and grace that Christ gives them. Each person must be a co-worker with Christ in the labour of overcoming sin.
Those among humanity, who are the victims of evil habits and who are held tightly in Satan’s grasp, must be aroused to the necessity of making an effort for themselves. Other persons may put forth the most earnest endeavour to uplift them, the grace of God may be freely offered, Christ may entreat, His angels may minister, but all will be in vain unless they themselves are roused to fight the battle on their own behalf.
To every child of humanity, a candidate for eternal life, are these words of God spoken, “Be strong, and quit [conduct] yourselves like men, O ye…[people], that ye be not servants unto” (1 Samuel 4:9), Satan: quit [conduct] yourselves like men, and fight.” 1 Samuel 4:9. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit [conduct] you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13. “Be thou strong…and shew [show] thyself a man.” 1 Kings 2:2.
Let this then be the prayer of your heart, “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:10.
Faith
You then, as an individual who has prayed to God for help in overcoming sin, will be found among those “who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” Hebrews 6:18. “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast [steadfast]” (Hebrews 6:19) in that God “is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21), even to “subdue our iniquities.” Micah 7:19.
Therefore, if you have “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but…[were] strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20), giving all praise and honour to God; “and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:20, 21), then this faith of yours causes God’s promises to be a reality in your life. “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure.” Romans 4:16.
Taking hold of God’s promises by faith, you will say, in accordance with the word of God, the Bible, “It is God that girdeth [secures] me with [moral] strength, and maketh my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32. For God says, “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Psalm 37:31.
You may then say in truth, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
The key then to success in attaining to true sanctification is our faith in Christ. For God says you are to be such “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; [such] that ye…[are] rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17. This means that, by exercising faith in Christ, we have come to love Christ with our whole heart and, by extension, to love the Father and the Holy Spirit, and to love all God’s created intelligences, including, your fellow human beings.
Christ says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4, 5. Using the illustration of a grapevine, Christ says that in order to be sanctified we must, by faith, have a relation to Him like that of a branch to the parent stock.
The branch, in order to grow and bear fruit, must remain in constant connection with the parent stock and thereby receive lifegiving nutrients, otherwise the branch will wither and die. So, in order to be sanctified we must, at all times, retain our connection with Christ in that our faith in Christ is to be steadfast for as Christ says, “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5), that is, do nothing good.
“The just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38), or in other words, shall have eternal life by their faith. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” Colossians 2:6. We are to continue walking in the steps which were already taken by us in order to be justified by God.
Thus, sanctification is God’s test to see if we who are justified will remain “stedfast [steadfast], unmoveable” (1 Corinthians 15:58) in our faith in Christ such that we do not resist the working of God’s “divine power.” 2 Peter 1:3. It is by our consent that we allow God’s power to “subdue our iniquities” (Micah 7:19), to subdue the sinful nature.
Then God says of us, “Ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9) for “the old man…is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Ephesians 4:22. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him [Christ], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6.
Now then “being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17) you are now “renewed in…your mind” (Ephesians 4:23), such “that ye put on the new man, which after God” (Ephesians 4:24), according to the likeness of God’s character of love, “is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24.
Through constant surrender to God and steadfast faith in God’s promises, you will be enabled to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), enabled to live the new life in harmony with Christ’s character of love, even the life of faith.
Obedience
“Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:5. In response to God, we should say with our “whole heart” (Psalm 9:1), “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:59), which is the word of God, the Bible. “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Psalm 119:60.
There is danger in delaying to obey any commandment of God of which we are aware. For God says, “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither [where] he goeth.” John 12:35. That is, God says that we are to practice the truth, which is to walk in the light, lest the darkness of sinful ways settles upon our minds such that we cannot “discern between good and evil.” 2 Samuel 19:35.
So, God says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20.
How do we walk in the light of truth? We do so when “we all, with open face” (2 Corinthians 3:18), with unveiled faces, “beholding as in a glass” (2 Corinthians 3:18), as in a mirror, “the glory of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18), the perfect character of Christ, “are changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18), from one degree of goodness to another, “even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
It is by loving Christ, by copying Christ, by depending completely upon Christ, that we are “transformed” (Romans 12:2) into the likeness of Christ’s perfect character of love.
You then, are to be such as have “purposed in…[your] heart” (Daniel 1:8) to obey God’s law of love. Thus, by faith, we will “walk in love” (Ephesians 5:2) and say “the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” Isaiah 50:7.
By turning our feet into the path of obedience with fixedness of purpose, we will be such that we “labour, striving according to his working” (Colossians 1:29), the working of the Holy Spirit, “which worketh in…[us] mightily.” Colossians 1:29.
We are to be found “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), seeing Jesus Christ our Example with the spiritual eye. For when the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, who is our source of strength and spiritual life. Therefore, we should be mindful “lest Satan should get an advantage of us” (2 Corinthians 2:11), and we should be such that “we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11.
It is Satan’s constant effort to keep our attention diverted from Christ, our Saviour, and thus prevent our union and communion with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life’s cares and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or our own faults and imperfections—to any or all of these—Satan will seek to divert the mind. Be careful then that you are not misled by Satan’s devices, for by separating us from Christ, Satan hopes to gain the victory over us.
Believe in Christ, believe that “he is able…to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. Let self be lost sight of in the contemplation of Christ.
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness” (James 1:21), lay aside all moral defilement and the abundance of depravity, “and receive with meekness the engrafted word” (James 1:21), the implanted word of God, “which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21.
The word of God is implanted in our hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit as a guide for us in our daily lives such that “the Lord direct…[our] hearts into the love of God” (2 Thessalonians 3:5), into the same love that resides in God’s heart. “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4), moral strength to overcome sin.
So, God says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1. “For if ye live after the flesh,” (Romans 8:13) according to the sinful nature, “ye shall die” (Romans 8:13) “the second death [which is eternal]” (Revelation 20:6), “but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13) eternally.
You are free from the condemnation of God’s law of love if you do not now live according to the sinful nature, but instead live according to the new life born in you through the Holy Spirit, according to the righteousness of Christ that is in you.
A Knowledge of God
There are many ways in which God seeks to make Himself known to us and to bring us into communion with Him. Nature speaks to our senses without ceasing, it speaks to our hearts inviting us to become acquainted with God who made all the things of nature. God also speaks to us through His providential workings and through the influence of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts.
Furthermore, God speaks to us in His word, the Bible, in which we have more clearly the revelation of God’s character, of His dealings with humanity, and His great work of redemption. Now God says of Himself, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17.
The word of truth, which is the word of God, the Bible, is essential to our sanctification. Therefore, in this book, I have set out to find the precious gems of truth in the Bible for God says, “The holy scriptures…are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.
Just as sanctification is a lifelong process, so the study of the Bible is a lifelong undertaking of those who wish to come to “the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature,” unto the full degree, “of the fulness [perfection] of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13. In studying the Bible for yourself, you may avoid being among those of whom God says, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29.
All throughout human history, God has declared regarding many, “I [was] grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” Psalm 95:10. “Do not err, my beloved.” James 1:16.
We will take a detailed look at how the Bible can give us a clear knowledge of God, and specifically, how to study the Bible for ourselves in a subsequent chapter.
The Cultivation of Right Thoughts
God says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. Our thoughts then are an indication of our character. God says of the “the natural man” (1 Corinthians 2:14), “from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23.
“The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7. “To be carnally minded is [eternal] death; but to be spiritually minded is [eternal] life and peace.” Romans 8:6.
“The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 15:26), but God says, with respect to those who have been “transformed” (Romans 12:2) by God, “The thoughts of the righteous are right.” Proverbs 12:5. We must at all times cultivate right thoughts. We should not allow our minds to wander and fasten on “evil thoughts” (Mark 7:21)—these must be resisted immediately and our minds turned to profitable subjects.
For Satan and the other demons, the “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49), will suggest unholy thoughts to our minds in an effort to corrupt our minds, thus causing us to sin. Our sinful nature will also give rise to evil thoughts and the world around us will entice us to sin, but the mind must be trained to turn from these things.
You might say, “How can I resist Satan, my sinful nature, and the world, all of which tempt me to sin?” God says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
What is the way of escape which God provides? It is prayer, the turning of our minds to God for help. Say to God, “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul” (Psalm 25:1) and start talking to God asking God to help you not to sin. Thus, you are found to be “continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12. Meet every temptation instantly with prayer to God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.
After praying, by faith believe that you have received the blessing from God which you desired. Now, the language of our hearts should be “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love” (Psalm 119:113), “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97. God’s law of love is a profitable subject to which we can turn our minds when we are tempted to sin.
Moreover, God says, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law [of love] doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3.
Two Errors to Guard Against
There are two errors which the justified, who are known as the children of God, particularly those of the justified who have just come to trust in God’s grace, especially need to guard against.
Now the first error is attempting to keep the law apart from Christ, that is, attempting to be saved by one’s own merit. The second error is attempting to be saved in one’s sins, because of the belief that, since we are justified by faith, our works have nothing to do with our salvation. We will now look at what God has to say about these two errors.
The Error of Attempting to be Saved by One’s Own Merit
Speaking of mankind, God says, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.” Proverbs 21:2. Almost all of humanity believe that they are good. But God says, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” Titus 1:15. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.
Therefore, God declares that all humanity who have not been justified can say of themselves in truth, “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Humanity’s thoughts and feelings, if they have not been justified by God, are corrupt and they have “an evil conscience.” Hebrews 10:22. All humanity’s deeds then, even their good deeds, are tainted with sin because their motives, their spring of action, is evil.
God says, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” Job 14:4. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23. So, those professed Christians who look to their own works, trusting to anything they can do to bring themselves into harmony with God, are in error. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping God’s law of love, is attempting an impossibility.
All that humanity can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is only “the grace of Christ” (Galatians 1:6), through faith, that can make us holy.
Such persons bring their good deeds before God as if they had met God’s requirements and earned their salvation, but God declares their good deeds to be “dead works.” Hebrews 6:1. They have no merit in God’s eyes. These persons are attempting an impossibility by seeking to be saved by their own merit.
To some who have already been justified by Him, God says, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh” (Galatians 3:3), by the sinful nature?” “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the [works of] law; ye are fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4.
For God says, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh [no human being] be justified.” Galatians 2:16. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh [no human being] be justified in his [God’s] sight.” Romans 3:20.
“The works of the law” (Galatians 2:16) and “the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:20) refer to one’s attempts to keep the law without Christ dwelling in the heart by faith. Such an attempt always results in what God calls “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1) and not “good works.” Ephesians 2:10. Even those who have been justified by God are not immune to this error.
The only remedy is to be justified by God at which time those who are justified become “rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17. Thus, love becomes the motive of all that the person does instead of selfishness.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. It is only by faith in Christ that we become “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17) “because the love of God is shed abroad [supernaturally poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5. Therefore, we are enabled by God to obey God’s law of love.
“Now the end [goal] of the commandment is charity [love] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned [sincere faith]” (1 Timothy 1:5) in Christ. God says, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14) which is “the heavenly Jerusalem.” Hebrews 12:22. God’s reward of paradise and immortality then is only for those people who are righteous in God’s eyes.
God says, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13. For “when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity [sin], and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” Ezekiel 18:24.
No matter how many victories the individual has won in their past life in humanity’s second battle, if in the end, they are not found to be justified, in right standing before God, they will not be saved.
True obedience to God’s law of love manifested in “good works” (Ephesians 2:10) is the fruit of faith, which is to say, the result of faith. True obedience does not precede our justification, but instead follows our justification. Therefore, anyone attempting to keep the law in their own strength, apart from Christ, in order to be justified is attempting an impossibility.
The Error of Attempting to be Saved in One’s Sins
God says of you who are justified, “Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the [condemnation of the] law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14. Some interpret this Bible verse and even teach others that it means that the law has been done away with.
Since faith in Christ alone is the crowning step by which we become partakers of God’s grace, they say that our works have nothing to do with our salvation. They say that it is only necessary to believe in Christ and this belief has released us from keeping the law. “Only believe”, they say, “and you shall be saved”. They say, “We are under the grace of God and have no need of the law.” Such persons sin every day and have no remorse for their sins.
But God says, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the [condemnation of the] law, but under grace? God forbid” (Romans 6:15), which is to say, “Absolutely not!”
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1, 2. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16. “Reckon ye…yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11.
The teaching that we are not accountable to God’s law is a dangerous error, for it causes those who hold this doctrine to make no effort to keep God’s law of love. This teaching is contrary to what God says in His word, the Bible: “Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son.” Proverbs 28:7. It is “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.
“God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:17, 18.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth [breaks] also the law: for sin is the transgression [breaking] of the law.” 1 John 3:4. But “blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14) which is “the heavenly Jerusalem.” Hebrews 12:22.
We can see then the fallacy of the belief that our works have no bearing on our salvation, because only those found to be obedient to God’s law of love will “have right to the tree of life.” Revelation 22:14. Those who commit sin will, if they do not repent and do “good works” (Ephesians 2:10) through faith in Christ, suffer the penalty of eternal death for their sins.
Comparison of the Two Errors
One group of professed Christians exalt God’s law but, in error, seek to earn their salvation by their own best efforts in keeping the law. These fail of obtaining salvation because they sought it not through “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21. They are of “the works of the law.” Galatians 2:16.
But God says, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4, 5. “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4. Only faith “in Jesus Christ…availeth any thing” (Galatians 5:6) towards our obtaining salvation and eternal life.
The other group of professed Christians, in error, cast away God’s law and claim salvation on account of their belief in Christ, which in fact, is a superficial belief. They live in sin and yet claim to be followers of Christ. They have not heeded God’s instruction, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art…called.” 1 Timothy 6:12. Such persons do not “war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) against sin and Satan and so they fail of obtaining salvation.
For God says, we should know that “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [He, Christ,] who did no sin.” 1 Peter 2:21, 22. Christ is He “who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Hebrews 7:26. “If, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” Galatians 2:17.
Only the individual “that is without sin” (John 8:7) shall obtain salvation and eternal life.
God Encourages Humanity
God says, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save [you].” Isaiah 49:24, 25. All humanity are lawful captives of Satan and destined for eternal death, but God has promised to save them from eternal death, and instead give them eternal life.
God’s promise will benefit only those among all humanity who “war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) according to God’s battle plan, the Bible. For God says, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24.
Of such people, God says, “Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned [sincere] love of the brethren” (1 Peter 1:22), your fellow human beings, “ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Peter 1:22. They are “faultless” (Jude 1:24) before God and, therefore, God’s promise is fulfilled in them.
God says, “We do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.” 2 Corinthians 12:19. “Hear, O my…[child], and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many” (Proverbs 4:10), the years of your life shall never end. The key then to winning this second and final battle against sin and Satan is to follow God’s battle plan, the Bible.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12. Paradise and immortality is worth everything to us. We must not run any risk in this matter. God has crowns for those that overcome sin.
Now Christ says, with respect to the judgment of all who have ever lived on earth, if “he…overcometh [sin]…I will not blot out his name out of the book of [eternal] life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5.
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7. Thus, your name will be retained in God’s book of eternal life if in the judgment you are found to be faithful, and you will have eternal life by eating from “the tree of life.” Revelation 2:7.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10. So, “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.” Romans 2:7. In other words, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved [by God to eternal life].” Matthew 24:13.
“The LORD thy God…he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17. “Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son” (Proverbs 28:7) and “a wise son maketh a glad father.” Proverbs 15:20.
Everyone who enters “the holy city, new Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:2), they who “seek for glory and honour and immortality” (Romans 2:7) will enter it as a conqueror. He or she will not enter it as a condemned criminal, but as a child of God. And the welcome from Christ given to everyone who enters there will be, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34.
This chapter has given only an introduction to the process of sanctification. In the following chapters, we will take a detailed look at some aspects of sanctification.