CHRISTIAN FAITH

FROM FAITH TO FAITH.
But there is another expression in the text which stands
at the beginning of this tract: "For therein [ in the gospel] is
the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith." This
expression has been the subject of much learned discussion
by theologians, and very few of them are agreed as to its
meaning. The fact that learned men are disagreed in regard
to it, need not frighten us from it with the thought that it
cannot be understood, for we [11] read that things hidden
from the wise and prudent are revealed unto babes. If we
are but simple enough to accept the obvious Scripture
meaning, as explained by the Scriptures, we need not be in
darkness.
One of the greatest causes of the failure of many people
to understand the book of Romans, and indeed, any other
portion of Scripture, is a failure to hold to first principles
and Bible definitions. Men attempt to define some terms
according to their theological training, and find it hard
work to make them fit. Then if they at one time accept the
Bible definition of the term, they do not adhere to it, but
give it some other meaning the next time they meet with it.
This can lead to nothing else but confusion.
The cause of the difficulty in understanding this text is a
failure to cling to the Bible definition of the term, "the
righteousness of God." We have already seen that it is an
expression indicating God's character, and that His
character is set forth in the ten commandments. They sum
up the whole duty of man, which is to be like God. Eccl.
12:13, 14; James 2:8, 12. The law, having been
transgressed, cannot, as a matter of course, be perfectly
represented in any person's life, so the gospel was devised
that man might in Christ find the perfect righteousness of
the law. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth, because it makes manifest the
righteousness of God. Not only is the law—the
righteousness of God—preached, and its majesty upheld,
by the gospel, but by the gospel the fruits of righteousness
are made to appear in the life of the believer.
Some would make "righteousness of God" in this [12]
text synonymous with "justification." That is all right, if
they do not limit the application of the text to the moment
of justification from past transgression. It is the application
of the law in Christ to the life of the transgressor that
justifies him. Through the redemption which is in Christ
Jesus, God by His grace counts the past life of the sinner
who believes as though it had been in every respect in
accord with His law. Rom. 3:25. This is justification. It is
the revelation, or manifestation, through the gospel, of the
righteousness of God. Rom. 3:21, 22. But the text says that
this is "revealed from faith to faith;" and this can mean
nothing else but a progressive work of righteousness. The
verse teaches that the righteousness of God is revealed
from one degree of faith to a higher degree of faith, and
consequently that righteousness must ever be on the
increase. This is shown by the quotation which the apostle
makes to prove his statement. It must be that the
righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, he
argues, because it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

SOLEMN WARNING

Satan's enmity against Christ has been manifested against His followers.The same hatred of the principles of God's law,the same policy of deception,by which error is made to appear as truth,by which human laws are substituted for the law of God,and men are led to worship the creature rather than the Creator,may be traced in all history of the past.Satan's efforts to misrepresent the character of God,to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator,and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love;his endeavours to set aside the divine law,leading the people to think themselves free from its requirements;and his persecutions of those who dare to resist his deceptions,have been steadily pursued in all the ages.
They may be traced in  the history of the patriachs,prophets,and apostles,of matyrs and reformers.In the grat conflict satan will employ the samepolicy,manifest the same spirit,and work for the same endas in allpreceeding ages.That which has been will be,except that the coming struggle will be marked with such aterrible intensity suc as the world has never witnessed.Satan's deceptions will be more subtle,his assaults more determined.If it were possible he wou;d lead atsray the elect(Mark 13:22)