What Doth the Lord Require?

By “salvation” I mean the plan by which a sinner can be saved out of this world of sin and given an entrance into God’s everlasting kingdom as a saint. The question, then, is, What must I be or do in order to qualify for such a transfer? What are God’s requirements for an entrance into His kingdom? What bearing have the writings of Ellen G. White on our fitness for a place among the saints of all ages to whom the everlasting kingdom shall be given?BHP 299.1

Ellen G. White is very consistent in her answer to these questions, and she has not left us in doubt in the matter. A few paragraphs from her pen are typical of what we find in all her writings:BHP 299.2

“All who would enter the city of God must during their earthly life set forth Christ in their dealings. It is this that constitutes them the messengers of Christ, His witnesses.” Testimonies for the Church 9:23.BHP 299.3

“Who are the subjects of the kingdom of God?—All those who do His will. They have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The members of Christ’s kingdom are the sons of God, partners in His great firm. The elect of God are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a holy nation, to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They are living stones, a royal priesthood. They are in copartnership with Jesus Christ. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 422.BHP 299.4

“The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been,—just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents,—perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled…. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us.” Steps to Christ, 62 (Army and Navy ed.).BHP 299.5

“The law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can ‘be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.’ Romans 3:26.” The Desire of Ages (1940), p. 762.BHP 300.1

“This robe [of Christ’s righteousness], woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us…. 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….BHP 300.2

“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 311, 312.BHP 300.3

“The Lord’s philosophy is the rule of the Christian’s life. The entire being should be imbued with the life-giving principles of heaven. The busy nothings which consume the time of so many shrink into their proper position before a healthy, sanctifying, Bible piety.BHP 301.1

“The Bible, and the Bible alone, can produce this good result…. The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character. And it is the only sure means of intellectual culture….BHP 301.2

“The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character…. If studied and obeyed, the Word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute…. The truths of the Word of God meet man’s great practical necessity—the conversion of the soul through faith.” The Signs of the Times, October 10, 1906, p. 3.BHP 301.3