What assurance is
given to every believer in Christ?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
What wonderful
truth is revealed in the gospel message?
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from
faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Romans 1:17.
What was brought to
light through the gospel?
"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus
Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:10.
How closely are righteousness and
life connected?
"In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway
thereof there is no death." Proverbs 12:28.
Finding righteousness, what else do we find?
"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,
righteousness, and honour." Proverbs 21:21.
Who alone can give us
the grace that leads to eternal life?
"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans
5:21.
What do the Psalms
declare God's commandments to be?
"My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness."
Psalms 119:172.
What does Jesus say
that those commandments are?
"And I know that his commandment is life
everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said
unto me, so I speak." John 12:50.
What does the prophet
Jeremiah declare Christ to be?
"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:
and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23:6.
What did Christ tell
us was essential to eternal life?
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me." John 14:6.
How do we receive
righteousness?
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter
into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17.
How do we receive
eternal life?
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness
shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" Romans 5:17.
How do we obtain
eternal life?
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
"Christ is the
source of every right impulse. He is the only one that can implant in the
heart enmity against sin. Every desire for truth and purity, every
conviction of our own sinfulness, is an evidence that His Spirit is
moving upon our hearts.
"Jesus has said, 'I,
if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.' Christ must
be revealed to the sinner as the Saviour dying for the sins of the world,
and as we behold the Lamb of God upon the cross of Calvary, the mystery
of redemption begins to unfold to our minds, and the goodness of God
leads us to repentance. In dying for sinners, Christ manifested a love
that is incomprehensible; and as the sinner beholds this love, it softens
the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition in the soul.
"It is true that
men sometimes become ashamed of their sinful ways, and give up some of
their evil habits, before they are conscious that they are being drawn to
Christ. But whenever they make an effort to reform, from a sincere
desire to do right, it is the power of Christ that is drawing them. An
influence of which they are unconscious works upon the soul, and the
conscience is quickened, and the outward life is amended. And as Christ draws
them to look upon His cross, to behold Him whom their sins have pierced,
the commandment comes home to the conscience. The wickedness of their
life, the deep seated sin of the soul, is revealed to them. They begin to
comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ, and exclaim, What
is sin, that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of
its victim? Was all this love, all this suffering, all this humiliation
demanded, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life?" Happiness
Digest, p. 30.