Do these thoughts accurately reflect your view?

Rather, God's mercy is manifested by the grace that allows us to abide in Christ. Choosing to not abide in Christ is equivalent to choosing to reject God's mercy. Even if it's available, it does no good to those who are not in Christ.

However, if it has been in my heart to obey, Jesus' righteousness makes up for unavoidable deficiencies. Therefore, as Judge, God sees Christ's character instead of mine, Christ's merits instead of mine, because I am in Christ.

Now, if I choose to stop being in Christ, to stop abiding in Him, then there is no hilasterion for me.

1.God sees Christ's character instead of yours, if you meet the condition.
2.If you quit meeting the condition, then there is no hilasterion for you.

Since item 1. is dealing with God's behavior, I assumed item 2 was as well. But in your clarification, it sounds like you are saying that item 2 is dealing with your behavior, not God's. That is, you say that if you don't meet the condition, then you are rejecting God's mercy, and that's why there is not hilasterion for you.

No, I don't think I agree.

I believe our standing before God is based solely on imputed righteousness. Our imparted righteousness, though faultless to non-divine eyes, is still tainted by corruption.

God sees me as blameless and upright because Christ's character stands in place of mine.

Not sure here, is there such a clear cut difference between justification and sanctification? Are either of those defined in relation to sin? Is not justification a word that describes a person who has been made right with God, through Jesus? Is not sanctification a word that describes a person who is starting to grow in the fruit of the Spirit?

Arnold, I am shocked you believe imparted righteousness is tainted with corruption. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you mean. It sounds like you are saying faith that works by love, that the fruits of the Spirit, are tainted with corruption. Did I hear you right? If so, I would appreciate it if you could provide Scripture and SOP support. Thank you.

He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He reached to the very depth of human misery and woe, to take man as He found him, a being tainted with corruption, degraded with vice, depraved by sin, and united with Satan in apostasy, and elevate him to a seat upon His throne. {FE 199.1}

The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the Intercessor, who is at God's right hand, presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. {1SM 344.2}

Me:1.God sees Christ's character instead of yours, if you meet the condition.
2.If you quit meeting the condition, then there is no hilasterion for you.

Since item 1. is dealing with God's behavior, I assumed item 2 was as well. But in your clarification, it sounds like you are saying that item 2 is dealing with your behavior, not God's. That is, you say that if you don't meet the condition, then you are rejecting God's mercy, and that's why there is not hilasterion for you.

You:Actually, in my mind, both 1 and 2 are primarily dealing with our actions, and the inevitable consequences.

Perhaps I should clarify what I understand "the condition" to be. Essentially, I see the condition as being covered by the hilasterion. Hence, if you are covered by the hilasterion, God sees the hilasterion, not you. Furthermore, if you quit being covered by the hilasterion, the hilasterion does you no good (rather obvious). And going back to my other comment, it is by God's mercy that the hilasterion is available to us.

The following quotes define how I'm using the words justification and sanctification. Do you agree with them?

1SM 396
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. {1SM 396.2}

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. Sanctification means habitual communion with God. {7BC 908.16}

1SM 397
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. {1SM 397.1}

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). {1SM 397.2}

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). {1SM 397.3}

Imputation of the righteousness of Christ comes through justifying faith, and is the justification for which Paul so earnestly contends. {1SM 397.4}

FW 100
But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. {FW 100.1}