Scott, for some reason what you wrote reminded me of a sermon of A. T. Jones. (it was the part about sunscreen that reminded me of this). This is from the 1895 GCB:

First of all I would call especial attention to that expression "in Him." This expression is not used in the Scriptures and I shall never expect to use in any such sense as that it is in Him as in a receptacle or a reservoir to which we are to go and take out what we may need and put it upon us or apply it to ourselves. No, no, no! That is not it. It can never be gotten in that way. It is not there as in a receptacle to which we are to go and take out what we would have of him and enjoy it and apply it to ourselves and say, "Now I have got it."

No, it is in Him, and we ourselves are to be in Him, in order to have it. We are to sink ourselves in Him. Our self is to be lost in Him. Then He has us. Only in Him it is. We find it only in Him. And even when we would get it in Him, it is only by being ourselves overwhelmed in Him. Never are we to think of going to get it there and take it out of Him and use it ourselves. Therefore where the Scriptures use the term "in Him," it means only that to all. All is in Him and we get it by being ourselves in Him.

Many people make a mistake here. They say, "Oh, yes, I believe on Him. I know it is in Him and I get it from Him." And they propose to take it from Him and apply it to themselves. Then soon they become quite well satisfied that they are righteous; they are holy, and they get so far along at last that in their estimation it is a settled fact that they are perfect and just cannot sin and are even beyond temptation. Such a view is certain to bring only such result, because it is out of Him. And it is themselves who are doing it.

But that is not the way. That is self still, because it is out of Christ. And "without Me," that is, outside of Him, "ye can do nothing," because ye are nothing. In Him it is and only in Him. And only as we are in Him can we have it or profit by it at all.

MM, doesn't the faith which results in justification always manifest itself in good works? For example, look at Zacchaeus. When he was converted, he offered restitution for any that he had wronged.

Look at how Paul's life was changed. He was willing to do anything for Christ.

Is there any example of anyone who was justified by faith whose faith was not manifest in righteousness? I suppose one could mention the thief on the cross, but the only reason we don't see good works in him is that he died so quickly. But how can one be converted and not produce good works?

I'm not understanding the distinction you're trying to make between the faith which brings justification and the faith which retains it.

As EGW put it:

Angels could not fully portray the character of God, but Christ, who was a living impersonation of God, could not fail to accomplish the work. The only way in which he could set and keep men right was to make himself visible and familiar to their eyes. (ST 1/20/90)

We are both set and kept right by the revelation of God's character through Jesus Christ.

Here's a statement from Waggoner:

Christ did not go through the pangs of death for nothing, nor did he give his life to us for the purpose of taking it away again. When he gives us his life, he designs that we shall keep it forever. How do we get it? By faith. How do we keep it? By the same faith. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." Col. 2:6. His life can never end, but we may lose it by unbelief.

Let it be remembered that we have not this life in ourselves, but "this life is in his Son." "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12. We keep the everlasting life by keeping Christ. (Waggoner on Romans)

The same faith which obtains justification is the same faith which retains it. As Waggoner points out, we keep everlasting life by keeping Christ.

Scott: We don't obtain justification.

MM: Yes we do. Here is how an inspired prophet and messenger of God put it:

Mar 79
God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him to death for our offenses and raised Him again for our justification. Through Christ we may present our petitions at the throne of Grace. Through Him, unworthy as we are, we may obtain all spiritual blessings. Do we come to Him, that we may have life? {Mar 79.4}

NL 27
We are to say: "Christ died to save me. The Lord's desire is that I should be saved, and I will come to Jesus just as I am without delay. I will venture upon the promise. As Christ draws me, I will respond." The apostle says, "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness" (Rom. 10:10). No one can believe with the heart unto righteousness, and obtain justification by faith, while continuing the practice of those things which the Word of God forbids, or while neglecting any known duty. {NL 27.3}

Genuine faith will be manifested in good works; for good works are the fruits of faith. As God works in the heart, and man surrenders his will to God, and cooperates with God, he works out in the life what God works in by the Holy Spirit, and there is harmony between the purpose of the heart and the practice of the life. Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and glory, and the believer must have a progressive experience by continually doing the works of Christ. It is by continual surrender of the will, by continual obedience, that the blessing of justification is retained. {NL 28.1}

Those who are justified by faith must have a heart to keep the way of the Lord. It is an evidence that a man is not justified by faith when his works do not correspond to his profession. James says, "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was his faith made perfect?" (James 2:22). {NL 28.2}

The faith that does not produce good works does not justify the soul. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). . . . {NL 28.3}

3SM 76
I can never doubt my mission, for I am a participant in the privileges and am nourished and vivified, knowing that I am called unto the grace of Christ. Every time I set forth the truth to the people, and call their attention to eternal life which Christ has made possible for us to obtain, I am as much benefited as they with most gracious discoveries of the grace and love and the power of God in behalf of His people, in justification and reconciliation with God.--Manuscript 174, 1903. {3SM 76.1}

7BC 908
Justification means the saving of a soul from perdition, that he may obtain sanctification, and through sanctification, the life of heaven. Justification means that the conscience, purged from dead works, is placed where it can receive the blessings of sanctification (MS 113, 1902). {7BC 908.15}

Scott: Our problem with God was not a legal one, but a broken relationship. Satan in the garden deceived our first parents into believing that God can’t be trusted and that freedom was a sham.

MM: Yes and no. Yes, our problem involves legal issues, as well as relational ones. And, no, Adam was not deceived. He willingly chose to die with his wife, and not because he distrusted Jesus.

Tom, I suppose one could argue that faith is faith no matter how it is exercised whether toward justification or sanctification or whatever. But the faith we exercise to obtain justification does not require good works in order to obtain it. And the faith justified people exercise to experience sanctification is faith that produces good works. The one is our title to heaven and the other is our fitness for heaven.

MYP 35
Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous within is not hard-hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled, and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory. The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.--Review and Herald, June 4, 1895. {MYP 35.2}

MM, you took Scott's sentence out of context. That's not nice. He just got here. You should wait awhile before you start taking what he writes out of context.

Quotes.
Tom, it looks as though we're unable to see eye to eye on this topic. I believe we obtain justification by faith without good works, and that we retain it through faith that works by love (which is sanctification).

Yes. The one does not require works of righteousness, whereas the other does.

But the faith we exercise to obtain justification does not require good works in order to obtain it. And the faith justified people exercise to experience sanctification is faith that produces good works. The one is our title to heaven and the other is our fitness for heaven.

The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.--Review and Herald, June 4, 1895. {MYP 35.2}
Unquote.

M.M.

From the quotes above I see what you try to say is:

1. The Initial Justification, which according to you is called Justification by Faith, does require faith in Christ but not necessary the good works in order to obtain it.

Sorry Mike, I disagree.
Our Initial Justification doesn’t even require faith, let say work, so it could not be called “Justification by faith”.”
This Initial Justification was God’s act, it is His grace based on Jesus Christ redemption work that justifies all men, no matter an atheist, an anti Christ, etc.

This Justification was based on the Imputed righteousness of Christ became men’s title to heaven. Everybody has the same chance to go to heaven because everybody has been saved from the death and their lives were given back which was robbed by Adam.

If it required faith in Christ, then salvation is limited to those who believe Christ and all other people who never hear about Christ, who was an unbeliever, etc, would never rose from their graves. This is not true.

Here are the inspired verses:
Romans 3:23.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (this sentence refers to all men who ever live on earth), and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (a free gift of justification based on the redemption work of Christ, for all men).
Romans 5:18.
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

Very clear! Read also 1 Corinthian 15:21, 22.

In His love

James S.

2. The Final Justification according to you is God would only justify those who was justified by their faith in Christ and have exercised their faith in such a way that they must produce good works and become wholly sanctified.

Since there is a Judgment trial in front of God’s throne, using His Ten Commandment as the standard of judgment then what you propose as the good works to produce to obtain justification is nothing less than perfect obedience to the law of God.

Again, I disagree!
Since we differ in the Initial Justification view, it continues here in your 2nd Justification’s view.
The Final Justification is:
God, by his grace, justifies those who have faith in Christ. Period.

It doesn’t say good works is required or good works does count, or IOW faith + works is required to obtain justification. In fact, it does say that justification by faith is without the works of the law (of obedience) taken into account.

This is the inspired verses to which justification by faith is based:

Romans 3:21, 22.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 3:28: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 3:30: Since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Romans 4:1,2; Abraham was justified by faith.
Romans 5:1, 2 and 1 Corinthians 6:11; Justification by faith is an ongoing process based on God’s grace, from the 1st day we put our faith in Christ and were justified till the Judgment Day; For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17.
Galatians 2:16; 3:8, 11; Christ believers would be justified by their faith and not by their works.

Keyword:
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works, if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:5.

There is a significant distinction between the Initial Justification and the Final Justification. As you might see, the 1st is for all men, the 2nd is for Christ’ believers. The 1st is a free gift, the 2nd is subject to faith. The 1st is an objective fact but the 2nd is a subjective experience, subject to our faith in Christ.
The 2nd Justification is based on the righteousness from God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, apart from the law, apart from works. Given as a way out for the inability of men to be justified by the law, by their works.
Therefore, it is always by grace, for in front of the law, those who were justified by grace are in fact law breakers.

In His love

James S

I pretty much agree with what James is saying here, although I would word things differently. But the basic concepts he is sharing are good.