GENERAL CONFERENCE.
concrete form. The narrative of the lives of Abraham and
Sarai in connection with the birth of Isaac, furnishes a practical
example of justification by faith.
BATTLE CREEK, MICH., 1891.
BIBLE STUDY.
LETTER TO THE ROMANS
BY ELDER E. J. WAGGONER
In the fourth chapter of the book of Romans we have faith in a
Abraham was not justified by works; but he believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham
received the seal of circumcision.
Q: Why?
A: To cause him to believe? No, but
because he had believed. It was a seal of the righteousness which he
had by believing. ......it was a
covenant of
righteousness,
sealed by a seal of righteousness,
and the inheritance
was to be a righteous inheritance, which none but the righteous can
gain. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Pet. 3:13.
Twenty-five years elapsed from the time the
promise was made until it was fulfilled. "Abraham staggered not at the
promise of God," but Sarai did, and "Abraham hearkened unto the voice of
Sarai." She undertook to help the Lord to carry out His plan. But Hagar
was a slave, and her child could be nothing but a slave, born after the
flesh.
The seed promised Abraham were to be free men, not
slaves, 
therefore nothing was gained by this plan of Sarai's. The
time came when Sarai realized that the only thing for her to do was to
believe that God was able to carry out his promise without her help.
Then, "through faith" she "received strength to conceive seed." The
birth of Isaac was a miracle. From a human standpoint it was utterly
impossible for Abraham and Sarai to become the parents of a child. She
conceived by the power of God.
When men are content to believe God, and submit themselves to him, there
is power in his promises to work out their righteousness for them,
without any power of their own.
Q: How are men made righteous, or partakers
of the divine nature?
A: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises: that by these ye might be partakes of the
divine nature."
The power lies in the promise of God.
Q: How can we make
the promises effectual to us?
A: By believing them. "If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
By and by, God will come and say, "Gather My saints together unto me;
those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice." Christ is the
sacrifice here referred to. It is through him we come. He is the surety
of the covenant.
Confess your sins, believe that God forgives
them as he has promised; and the promise is yours, your sins are
forgiven.
