We'll get to the 1SM 344 below. But here's one you quoted earlier:
Christ's character stands in place of your character. She didn't say, "your character is just like Christ's character." In fact, the DA quote says that it is possible for those who are abiding in Christ to have a faulty character. Jesus didn't have a faulty character.


That quote is referring to "true believers" in Christ. We are agreed so far, I assume.

And as true believers, they fulfill 1Jn 3:9 - they do not sin. Do we agree here?

So what is the "corrupt channels of humanity" that true believers have, and the "taint of earthly corruption" that Jesus doesn't have?

They are at least partially right. Sin is a state of being as well as a state of doing. On top of that, it is also a state of thinking.

I suspect that you define sin in a way that excludes a state of being. Every postlapsarian I know does. Am I right?

If we take that definition, many verses fall into place. But then, Saul the Pharisee would also have been fine.


Not necessarily. It depends on what you think that "condition of sinlessness" is. None of the prophets or apostles ever claimed to be sinless. Men who have lived the closest to God confessed the sinfulness of their natures.

But not combining the sinless divine nature with the sinful human corruption.


It is, if we agree that it is Christ's righteousness imputed, not imparted. Imparted righteousness has its place, but not here. Our title to heaven is 100% imputed righteousness. That's taught in 1SM 344.

Ellen is talking about Jesus covering our past sins with His blood and righteousness. Also, no one can stand before God justified while cultivating faulty traits of character. And, no, Jesus never cultivated faulty traits of character. He did, however, inherit sinful traits and tendencies.


Yes, to the first two questions. The "corrupt channels of humanity" must necessarily refer to man as a whole. But as true believers abide in Jesus and partake of the divine nature their prayers and praise bypass the corrupt channels of humanity and ascend to God through Jesus purified and perfumed by His blood and righteousness. Good and evil cannot flow forth simultaneously.

Matthew
12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

A congregation may be the poorest in the land. It may be without the attraction of any outward show; but if the members possess the principles of the character of Christ, they will have His joy in their souls. Angels will unite with them in their worship. The praise and thanksgiving from grateful hearts will ascend to God as a sweet oblation. {COL 298.3}

Music should have beauty, pathos, and power. Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and devotion. Call to your aid, if practicable, instrumental music, and let the glorious harmony ascend to God, an acceptable offering. {Ev 505.1}

So the homes of Christians should be lights in the world. From them, morning and evening, prayer should ascend to God as sweet incense. And as the morning dew, His mercies and blessings will descend upon the suppliants. {7T 44.3}

Such prayer from a sincere heart ascends as incense before the Lord; and offerings to His cause and gifts to the needy and suffering are a sacrifice well pleasing to Him. Thus the gifts of the Philippian brethren who ministered to the needs of the apostle Paul while a prisoner at Rome, are said to be "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." {6BC 1059.5}

Do you know of any inspired passages that describe sin as a state of being? Here's what I've read about it:


Since sin is the transgression of the law, how can someone be a sin by simply being?


Fortunately we do not have to wonder what the "condition of sinlessness" means. Ellen makes it very clear. It is "the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression." She also makes it very clear that all may be like Jesus, that all may attain unto perfection of character in the same way Jesus did. Listen:

Here's something Waggoner wrote:

We have a fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin. In such a nature was Jesus tempted. He became like us so we can become like Him. He inherited the form and likeness of men. Jesus "took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." Listen:


Apart from partaking of the divine nature, we cannot use the faculties of human nature to produce righteous fruit. However, while partaking of the divine nature we are empowered to use the exact same faculties of human nature and produce righteous fruits. This is precisely what Jesus did.


The imputed blood and righteousness of Jesus serves one purpose - to cover our past sins. It is not needed to cover the righteous fruits we produce while partaking of the divine nature. Jesus produced the same righteous fruits we produce while partaking of the divine nature, and very few people are willing to say His fruits required a covering of blood.

Here are some statements regarding the imputed righteousness of Christ. It should be evident that the imputed righteousness of Christ involves more than merely covering past sins, or a legal declaration.

Tom, you seem to think the imputed righteousness of Jesus empowers people to obey the law of God. If so, how does it differ from the imparted righteousness of Jesus?

Apart from my comment that more than simply a legal declaration or a covering of past sins is involved, I just quoted from Ellen White. You're coming to a conclusion based on her words, not mine. So I think I could conclude, *you* seem to think the imputed righteousness of Jesus empowers people to obey the law of God (or, at least, that this is what EGW's words are saying, since this is what you asked me). Is this conclusion correct?