Chapter 9 - The Great Truth Lost Sight Of
That such a fundamental, all-embracing truth as imputed righteousness-justification by faith should be lost sight of by many professing godliness and entrusted with Heaven’s final message to a dying world, seems incredible; but such, we are plainly told, is a fact.COR 87.1
“The doctrine of justification by faith has been lost sight of by many who have professed to believe the third angel’s message.”-The Review and Herald, August 13, 1889.COR 87.2
“There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.”- The Review and Herald, September 3, 1889.COR 87.3
“For the last twenty years a subtle, unconsecrated influence has been leading men to look to men, to bind up with men, to neglect their heavenly Companion. Many have turned away from Christ. They have failed to appreciate the One who declares, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ Let us do all in our power to redeem the past.”-The Review and Herald, February 18, 1904.The Review and Herald, February 18, 1904.COR 87.4
Twenty years back from 1904 would just take in the sweep of the message of Righteousness by Faith in 1888, with the preparatory messages which immediately preceded it. What do you say, fellow workers? Shall we not do all in our power to redeem the past? It may be that in returning from the feast we have left Jesus behind, and it becomes necessary for us to seek Him sorrowing, as did Joseph and Mary on their journey homeward from Jerusalem. We are told that-COR 87.5
“The reason why our preachers accomplish so little is that they do not walk with God. He is a day’s journey from most of them.”-Testimonies for the Church 1:434.COR 88.1
It is an individual matter. Let us pause and consider: Is the Saviour a living, abiding presence in my life? or is He a day’s journey distant, and are my life and work the result of the memory of His presence?COR 88.2
The searching warning sent through the Spirit of prophecy regarding the large number of Seventh-day Adventists who had lost sight of the “doctrine of justification by faith,” was written in 1889. What change time has made in the proportion of our people who did not at that time hold to or understand this precious truth, none will attempt to say; but we do know that every believer in the third angel’s message at this time should have a clear conception of the doctrine of justification by faith and a well-grounded experience in the great transaction.COR 88.3