THE TRIAL OF GOD IS EVERYONE’S TRIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE BALANCES

THE TRIAL OF GOD IS EVERYONE’S TRIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE BALANCES

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH SERIES BY CALVIN MARIANO

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH PART ITHE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS

God’s image and righteousnessGOD’S IMAGE=GOD’S VALUE

THE TIME OF PROBATION DETERMINEDTHE RECKONING:GOD’S TRIAL, OUR TRIAL

THE INFINITE PRICE TO BE PAIDTHE PROMISE TO PAY

CONDITION OF FORGIVENESS

Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

1. THE TIME OF PROBATION DETERMINED

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks (seventy and sevens) are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

THE 7 TIMES 70

1. “determined (taken in a larger time frame) upon thy people and upon thy holy city (for a probationary time), ”

GOD’S APPOINTED JUDGMENT IS DETERMINED

A LIFETIME’S PROBATIONHebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

THE 7 TIMES 70 EXPLAINED

6000 YEARS OF PROBATION Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.


2. to finish (to restrain or stop) the transgression, and to make an end (to seal up, to mark up) of sins, and to make reconciliation (to provide a covering to remove) for iniquity,

TO BRING SALVATION


3. and to bring in everlasting righteousness (equity; exact or just weight),

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH :

THE IMPUTATION AND IMPARTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS


4. and to seal up (to finish, end up, mark up) the vision and prophecy,

THE SEALING; THE PERFECTION, AND THE FINISHING WORK OF THE GOSPEL


5. and to anoint the most Holy (holy of holies).

THE SETTTING OF THE HEAVENLY SERVICE (Hb. 9:7,8)

THE VINDICATION OF GOD’S CHARACTER, THE GLORIFICATION


Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 2:4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.


Be forgiving because the probationary time is shortLabor for the soul’s salvation and not for condemnation for the appointed time to finish transgression is just in a lifetime


Have the spirit of forgiveness for it is the character of GodForgive until they ask no moreTheir trial is our trialAnd, God’s trial is everyone’s trial


THE PARABLE OF FORGIVENESS

18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

2. THE TIME OF RECKONING: GOD’S TRIAL OUR TRIAL

10,000 TALENTS= 113,000 LBS + SILVER?=1 YR REVENUE OF BRITISH EMPIRE (1800’S)“But the Hebrew talent of silver, called cicar, was equivalent to three thousand shekels, or one hundred and thirteen pounds, ten ounces and a fraction, troy weight.” --Noah Webster, 1828 Dictionary10,000 TALENTS = THE INFINITE VALUE LEND TO MANKIND

THE IMMEASURABLE DEBT

GOD’S IMAGE-GOD’S MEANS FOR A TRIAL

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

THE VALUE LEND BY GOD TO MANKIND—HIS IMAGE=GOD’S VALUE IN MAN

GOD’S IMAGE IN MAN= GOD’S VALUE IN MANGOD’S IMAGE IN MAN=GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MANONE IS THE ORIGINAL, THE PATTERN OR THE STANDARD AND THE NEXT ONE IS THE COPYEQUITY (Value shared equally)

THE VALUE IN THE SCALES IS GOD’S IMAGE

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

A. GOD’S GLORY-IMAGE-FACE

Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image (Gk. Karakteer--exact replica, or exact representation) of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

B. GOD’S GLORY-IMAGE

Exodus 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. 33:19And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 33:20And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

C.GOD’S GLORY-IMAGE-CHARACTER-FACE

When a human life is in danger, what sacrifices men are ready to make! They stop at no risk, they grudge no effort and no cost that will save the imperiled life. Of how much more value is that life which measures with the life of God!...

IMAGE=THE MEASURE OF LIFE

…If we are Christians, and not mere pretenders, shall we not be far more earnest and interested to rescue the soul than to save the body? {GCB, December 1, 1895 par. 21}God’s image is our life, the condition of our existence, the means of His trial!

IMAGE=THE MEASURE OF LIFE

GOD’S TRIAL IS OUR TRIAL

The king called all his subjects to judge him .He gave them all his wealth to finance his trial.At the reckoning time, the king will know their verdict by the way the subjects spends his wealth.At the time of judgment one was found that he had used the money for pleasures.

THE TRIAL OF A GENEROUS KING

Then one was found used all the money for his wants and needs and did not use it to know the true character of his king. Then the last one was found that he used all the money for popularity.All were required to pay it back.They Had judged the king wrongfully and were judged the way they judged the king.

THE TRIAL OF A GENEROUS KING

Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: 25:25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.


25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: 25:27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 25:28Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.


Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.


The mind may speculate upon this, and fail to comprehend it; for the great matter to be decided in the conflict was not merely between God and man; every creature that God had created was involved in the conflict…

GOD’S TRIAL FOR STABILITY

The unfallen worlds saw that the character of God could be vindicated only through this trial and conflict of the two forces. The attributes of God must be made to appear. Of the stability of his government there must be no question… (eternal security)


And the Son of God himself proposed to carry forward the work to the end, to gain the victory over the prince of darkness and over all his allies- {YI, April 15, 1897 par. 13} Jesus-is to vindicate God’s image. But Satan’s purpose is to destroy it.


18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant has to pay it with his body, his family and all his property.

3. THE INFINITE DEBTS TO BE PAID

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.SIN =DEVALUES GOD’S IMAGE; INIQUITY, IMBALANCE

DEBTS=SIN, TRESPASS

Rom 3:23 ForG1063 allG3956 have sinned,G264 andG2532 come shortG5302 of theG3588 gloryG1391 of God;G2316

A. SIN=SHORT OF GOD’S GLORY

G264αμαρτανωhamartanoham-ar-tan'-oPerhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

SIN=MISS THE MARK, SHORT

As soon as the Lord through Jesus Christ created our world and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Satan announced his purpose to conform to his own nature the father and mother of all humanity, and to unite them with his own ranks of rebellion…

SIN=TO EFFACE GOD’S IMAGE

…He was determined to efface the image of God from the human posterity, and to trace his own image upon the soul in the place of the divine image. He adopted methods of deception by which to accomplish his purpose…


…He is called the father of lies, an accuser of God and of those who maintain their allegiance to God, a murderer from the beginning. He put forth every power at his command to win Adam and Eve to cooperate with him in apostasy, and succeeded in bringing rebellion into our world. . . . {CTr 10.3}


Exodus 34:7 KeepingH5341 mercyH2617 for thousands,H505 forgivingH5375 iniquityH5771 and transgressionH6588 and sin,H2403 and that will by no means clearH3808 H5352

H5352 the guilty; visitingH6485 the iniquityH5771 of the fathersH1 uponH5921 the children,H1121 and uponH5921 the children'sH1121 children,H1121 untoH5921 the thirdH8029 and toH5921 the fourthH7256 generation.

B. SIN=TRANSGRESSION AND INIQUITY

H6588פ�ש�עpesha‛peh'-shahFrom H6586; a revolt (national, moral or religious): - rebellion, sin, transgression, trespassive

SIN=TRANSGRESSION OR REBELLION

H5771עון עוון

‛avon ‛avonaw-vone', aw-vone'From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin.

SIN=INIQUITY, PERVERSITY, FAULT, MISCHIEF

Job 10:6 ThatH3588 thou enquirestH1245 after mine iniquity,H5771 and searchestH1875 after my sin?H2403

C. SIN OR OFFENCE=INIQUITY

H2403חט�אה חט�את

chatta'ah chatta'thkhat-taw-aw', khat-tawth'From H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: - punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin (-ner, offering).

SIN=OFFENCE

Mal 2:6 The lawH8451 of truthH571 wasH1961 in his mouth,H6310 and iniquityH5766 was notH3808 foundH4672 in his lips:H8193 he walkedH1980 withH854 me in peaceH7965 and equity,H4334 and did turn many awayH7725 H7227 from iniquity.H4480 H5771

D. INIQUITY OPPOSITE OF EQUITY

H4334מיש�ור מיש�ר

m yshor m yshorı � ı �mee-shore', mee-shore'From H3474; a level, that is, a plain (often used (with the article prefixed) as a proper name of certain districts); figuratively concord; also straightness, that is, (figuratively) justice (sometimes adverbially justly): - equity, even place, plain, right (-eously), (made) straight, uprightness.

EQUITY=UPRIGHT (straight up)

H5766עול עול עולה עולה עלה

‛evel ‛avel ‛avlah ‛olah ‛olaheh'-vel, aw'-vel, av-law', o-law', o-law'From H5765; (moral) evil: - iniquity, perverseness, unjust (-ly), unrighteousness (-ly), wicked (-ness).

INIQUITY=UNJUST (bias)

Isa 11:4 But with righteousnessH6664 shall he judgeH8199 the poor,H1800 and reproveH3198 with equityH4334 for the meekH6035 of the earth:H776 and he shall smiteH5221 the earthH776 with the rodH7626 of his mouth,H6310 and with the breathH7307 of his lipsH8193 shall he slayH4191 the wicked.H7563

E. EQUITY=JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS

H6664צדקtsedeqtseh'-dekFrom H6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: - X even, (X that which is altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).

EQUITY=JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS

Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?THERE IS NO REASON TO EFFACE GOD’S IMAGE

F. NOT FOUND WANTING=NO INIQUITY

Daniel 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Ezekiel 28:15 Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

G. SIN=FOUND WANTING=INIQUITY, UNJUST, UNRIGHTEOUS

1Jn 3:4 WhosoeverG3956 committethG4160 sinG266 transgresseth also the law:G4160

G2532 G458 forG2532 sinG266 isG2076 theG3588 transgression of the law.G458

THE LAW DEFINES MAN’S VALUE WHICH

GOD GAVE

TO BREAK THE LAW IS TO DESTROY THIS

VALUE

H. SIN-THE BREAKING OF THE CODIFIED IMAGE OF GOD

G266αμαρτιαhamartiaham-ar-tee'-ahFrom G264; sin (properly abstract): - offence, sin (-ful).

SIN=OFFENCE

G4160ποιεωpoieopoy-eh'-oApparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct): - abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do (-ing), …

SIN, TRANSGRESSION

…execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare G4238.

SIN, TRANSGRESSION

G458ανομιαanomiaan-om-ee'-ahFrom G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.LAWLESSNESS-ANOMIA

SIN, TRANSGRESSION- THE REMOVAL OF THE LAW-THE IMAGE OF GOD

18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

4. REPENTANCE: THE PROMISE TO PAY

The promise of the sinner to redeem himself by paying it from his own capacity and time as if he can produce the same amount. By this he is making himself the source not the receiver. (INIQUITY)Is man the source of his own value or image? Not at all!How to pay the balance?

FALSE JUSTIFICATION: FORGIVENESS BY WORKS

The light given me of God places this important subject above any question in my mind. Justification is wholly of grace and not procured by any works that fallen man can do. The matter has been presented before me in clear lines that if the rich man has money and possessions,..


…and he makes an offering of the same to the Lord, false ideas come in to spoil the offering by the thought he has merited the favor of God, that the Lord is under obligation to him to regard him with special favor because of this gift. {FW 20.1}


Some seek earnestly to find something to sustain the doctrine of justification through the works of the law, and wander in a tangle of condemnation, bitterness, and constant uncertainty. They fail to receive the light which God has given them, and their recompense is darkness…

JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS LEADS TO DARKNESS

…The search which they commenced in unbelief they finish with a deeper and more settled unbelief. Is there any light, and peace, and faith, and assurance, and victory for them while taking this course? {BEcho, August 26, 1895 par. 8}

JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS LEADS TO DARKNESS

It is the righteousness of Christ that makes the penitent sinner acceptable to God and works his justification. However sinful has been his life, if he believes in Jesus as his personal Saviour, he stands before God in the spotless robes of Christ's imputed righteousness. {FW 106.1}

JUSTIFICATION—FORGIVENESS OR TO BE COVERED BY GRACE

The sinner so recently dead in trespasses and sins is quickened by faith in Christ. He sees by faith that Jesus is his Saviour, and alive forevermore, able to save unto "the uttermost [all] that come unto God by Him." In the atonement made for him the believer sees such breadth and length and height and depth of efficiency--sees such completeness of salvation,…


…purchased at such infinite cost, that his soul is filled with praise and thanksgiving. He sees as in a glass the glory of the Lord and is changed into the same image as by the Spirit of the Lord. He sees the robe of Christ's righteousness, woven in the loom of heaven, wrought by His obedience, and imputed to the repenting soul through faith in His name. {FW 106.2}


Many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the work of salvation. Repentance is thought to be a work the sinner must do for himself in order that he may come to Christ. They think that the sinner must procure for himself a fitness in order to obtain the blessing of God's grace...

True repentance, the condition of justification

…But while it is true that repentance must precede forgiveness, for it is only the broken and contrite heart that is acceptable to God, yet the sinner cannot bring himself to repentance, or prepare himself to come to Christ. ..


…Except the sinner repent, he cannot be forgiven; but the question to be decided is as to whether repentance is the work of the sinner or the gift of Christ. Must the sinner wait until he is filled with remorse for his sin before he can come to Christ?…


…The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Spirit of God; as man responds to this drawing, he advances toward Christ in order that he may repent. {NL 20.3}


Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

…..When we accept Christ as our sacrifice, our substitute, our righteousness, then we behold the Father in a different light from that in which too many have regarded him in the past. We have blamed the Father for our sufferings…

True repentance, to free God from accusation of sin

…In ignorance and blindness to his infinite love, our hearts have been full of murmuring toward him; for the enemy had cast his shadow athwart our pathway, and clothed God with his own satanic character…


…But Christ came to reveal the Father, to roll back the shadow that Satan had cast over humanity, that men might behold God clothed in the divine attributes of his nature. {RH, July 5, 1892 par. 8}


Now, what we want to present is how you may advance in the divine life. We hear many excuses: I cannot live up to this or that. What do you mean by this or that? Do you mean that it was an imperfect sacrifice that was made for the fallen race upon Calvary, …


…that there is not sufficient grace and power granted us that we may work away from our own natural defects and tendencies, that it was not a whole Saviour that was given us? or do you mean to cast reproach upon God? …


…Well, you say, it was Adam's sin. You say, I am not guilty of that, and I am not responsible for his guilt and fall. Here all these natural tendencies are in me, and I am not to blame if I act out these natural tendencies. Who is to blame? Is God? Why did God let Satan have this power over human nature? …

True repentance, to free or to justify God from accusation of sin

…These are accusations against the God of heaven, and He will give you an opportunity, if you want it, of finally bringing your accusations against Him. Then He will bring His accusations against you when you are brought into His court of judgment. {1888 122.1}

True repentance, to free or to justify God from accusation of sin

What inexpressible love has the Saviour manifested toward the children of men! Not only does he take off the brand of sin, but he cleanses and purifies the soul, clothing it in the robe of his own righteousness, which is without spot, woven in the loom of heaven…

True repentance, the acceptance of the merits of Christ, the perfect value from heaven

…He not only lifts the curse from the sinner, but brings him into oneness with himself, reflecting upon him the bright beams of his righteousness. He is welcomed by the heavenly universe, accepted in the beloved Son of God. What glory can fallen man, through repentance and faith, bring back to God!...


…He accepts the law of Jehovah as his counselor, his reprover, his standard of character, and thus testifies to worlds unfallen and to this sinful world, that the law is immutable in its character, and has been exalted and honored by the death of Christ, the only provision through which man could be saved…


…O, how precious is the atoning sacrifice, because of that which it accomplishes! The cross speaks to the hosts of heaven, to worlds unfallen, and to the fallen world, the value which God has placed upon men, and of his great love wherewith he has loved us…


…It testifies to the world, to angels, and to men, the immutability of the divine law. The death of God's only begotten Son upon the cross in the sinner's behalf is the unanswerable argument as to the changeless character of the law of Jehovah. {RH, May 23, 1899 par. 13}


Summary part 1

• The trial is about God• The value is the image-character of God• Righteousness means God is the source of value and man

is the manager• Righteousness means balance; upright, equity. Just, whole• Sin or iniquity means imbalance. Deficient of God’s value,

wanting, transgression, short of God’s glory or image• Repentance is to accept the sacrifice of God to cover the

value man has lost, and justify or to free God from accusation of sin

THE TRIAL OF GOD IS EVERYONE’S TRIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE BALANCES

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