Abiding Truth

Genuine conversion is needed, not once in years, but daily. This conversion brings a man  into new relation with God. Old things, his natural temper, natural  passions, and hereditary traits of character pass away, and the man is  renewed, converted, sanctified. But this work needs to be continued, or  else the heart will become estranged from God; for just as long as Satan  lives, he will make an effort to carry out his will. The human agent  will constantly encounter a strong undercurrent. His heart needs to be  barricaded by faithful watchfulness and unceasing prayer, else the  embankment will give way, and like a mill stream, the undercurrent of  natural and cultivated tendencies will sweep away the safeguard. Then  the old objectionable traits of character will assert their sway. No  renewed heart can keep in a condition of sweetness and grace without the  application of the salt of the word. Divine grace must be applied  daily, else no man will stay converted.  {PC 359.2}

It  is the sufferings of our Redeemer in his life and death that makes it  possible for fallen man to become refined and elevating. As the divine  substitute and surety, he elevates the fallen race in character, and  brings their minds into healthful sympathy with the divine mind. Those  who are partakers of the divine nature see that true-heartedness means  continual humiliation, self-denial, and self sacrifice. Those who have  spiritual eyesight will discern that God does not honor those who are  honored by the world, but those who are true to principle. {PC 360.1}

Every man is responsible for the use he makes of his time, his talents,  and his possessions; for they are not his own. In the parable we are  represented as trading on borrowed capital. Our relation to God is that  of borrowers; to our fellow-men, that of owners. God is the giver of all  our benefits. Not only has he the right of ownership in ourselves and  all that we have, but he alone can give wisdom to so guide us that we  shall make no mistake in using our powers according to his purposes. Yet  how few there are who consider that they must render an account to God  for the use they make of every faculty. How often men act as though  their time and their possessions were their own, to be used as best  pleased themselves. {ST November 20, 1884, par. 8}

After  we have offered our petitions, we are to answer them ourselves as far  as possible, and not wait for God to do for us what we can do for  ourselves.... Divine help is to be combined with human effort,  aspiration, and energy.... We cannot be borne up by the prayers of  others when we ourselves neglect to pray, for God has made no such  provision for us. Not even divine power can lift one soul to heaven that  is unwilling to put forth efforts in his own behalf.... {FH 23.4}

As  thus step by step we ascend the shining ladder that leads to the city  of God, oh how many times we shall be discouraged and come to weep at  the feet of Jesus over our failures and our defeats.... Yet let us not  cease our efforts. Heaven can be attained by every one of us if we will strive lawfully,  doing the will of Jesus and growing into His image. Temporary failure  should make us lean more heavily on Christ, and we should press on with  brave heart, determined will, and unfaltering purpose.—Signs of the Times, August 14, 1884. {FH 23.5}

Self-righteousness  is the danger of this age; it separates the soul from Christ. Those who  trust to their own righteousness cannot understand how salvation comes  through Christ. They call sin righteousness and righteousness sin. They  have no appreciation of the evil of transgression, no understanding of  the terror of the law; for they do not respect God’s moral standard. The  reason there are so many spurious conversions in these days is that  there is so low an appreciation of the law of God. Instead of God’s  standard of righteousness, men have erected a standard of their own by  which to measure character. They see through a glass darkly and present  false ideas of sanctification to the people, thus encouraging egotism,  pride, and self-righteousness. The doctrine of sanctification advocated  by many is full of deception, because it is flattering to the natural  heart; but the kindest thing that can be preached to the sinner is the truth of the binding claims of the law of God. Faith and works must go hand in hand; for faith without works is dead, being alone.  {FW 96.3}

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4. {WGD 100.1}

We  need constantly a fresh revelation of Christ, a daily experience that  harmonizes with His teachings. High and holy attainments are within our  reach. Continual progress in knowledge and virtue is God’s purpose for  us. His law is the echo of His own voice, giving to all the invitation,  “Come up higher. Be holy, holier still.” Every day we may advance in  perfection of Christian character. {WGD 100.2}

Those  who are engaged in service for the Master need an experience much  higher, deeper, broader, than many have yet thought of having. Many who  are already members of God’s great family know little of what it means  to behold His glory, and to be changed from glory to glory. Many have a  twilight perception of Christ’s excellence, and their hearts thrill with  joy. They long for a fuller, deeper sense of the Saviour’s love. Let  these cherish every desire of the soul after God. The Holy Spirit works  with those who will be worked, molds those who will be molded, fashions  those who will be fashioned. Give yourselves the culture of spiritual  thoughts and holy communings. You have seen but the first rays of the  early dawn of His glory. As you follow on to know the Lord, you will  know that the “path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that  shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” {WGD 100.3}

...  Ever before Him, Christ saw the result of His mission. His earthly  life, so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered by the thought  that He would not have all this travail for naught. By giving His life  for the life of men, He would restore in humanity the image of God.—The Ministry of Healing, 503, 504. {WGD 100.4}

Those who received the light concerning the sanctuary and the immutability of the law of God were filled with joy and wonder as they saw the beauty and harmony of  the system of truth that opened to their understanding. They desired  that the light which appeared to them so precious might be imparted to  all Christians; and they could not but believe that it would be joyfully  accepted. But truths that would place them at variance with the world  were not welcome to many who claimed to be followers of Christ.  Obedience to the fourth commandment required a sacrifice from which the  majority drew back. {GC 454.1}

The cross of Christ testifies to the immutability of the law of God—testifies  that God so loved us that He gave His Son to die for our sins; but  Christ came not to destroy but to fulfill the law. Not one jot or tittle  of God’s moral standard could be changed to meet man in his fallen  condition. Jesus died that He might ascribe unto the repenting sinner  His own righteousness, and make it possible for man to keep the law. {1SM 312.2}

We  are to be brought into a sacred nearness with the world’s Redeemer. We  are to be one with Christ as He is one with the Father. What a wonderful  change the people of God experience in coming into unity with the Son  of God! We are to have our tastes, inclinations, ambitions, and passions  all subdued, and brought into harmony with the mind and spirit of  Christ. This is the very work that the Lord is willing to do for those  who believe in Him. Our life and deportment are to have a molding power  in the world. The spirit of Christ is to  have a controlling influence over the life of His followers, so that  they will speak and act like Jesus. Christ says, “The glory which thou  gavest Me I have given them.” ... {ML 252.3}

The  grace of Christ is to work a wonderful transformation in the life and  character of its receiver; and if we are truly the disciples of Christ,  the world will see that divine power has done something for us; for  while we are in the world, we shall not be of it.11 {ML 252.4}

The law of God unmixed with human  tradition was presented by Christ as the great standard of obedience.  This aroused the enmity of the rabbis. They had set human teaching above  God’s word, and had turned the people away from His precepts. They  would not give up their man-made commandments in order to obey the  requirements of the word of God. They would not, for the truth’s sake,  sacrifice the pride of reason and the praise of men. When Christ came,  presenting to the nation the claims of God, the priests and elders  denied His right to interpose between them and the people. They would  not accept His rebukes and warnings, and they set themselves to turn the  people against Him and to compass His destruction.  {COL 304.4}

From the first the great controversy had been upon the law of God.  Satan had sought to prove that God was unjust, that His law was faulty,  and that the good of the universe required it to be changed. In  attacking the law he aimed to overthrow the authority of its Author. In  the controversy it was to be shown whether the divine statutes were  defective and subject to change, or perfect and immutable. {PP 69.1}

If the law could be changed, man might have been saved without the  sacrifice of Christ; but the fact that it was necessary for Christ to  give His life for the fallen race, proves that the law of God will not release the sinner from its claims upon him. It is  demonstrated that the wages of sin is death. When Christ died, the  destruction of Satan was made certain. But if the law was abolished at  the cross, as many claim, then the agony and death of God’s dear Son  were endured only to give to Satan just what he asked; then the prince  of evil triumphed, his charges against the divine government were  sustained. The very fact that Christ bore the penalty of man’s  transgression is a mighty argument to all created intelligences that the  law is changeless; that God is righteous, merciful, and self-denying;  and that infinite justice and mercy unite in the administration of His  government. {PP 70.1}

The labor of love springs from the work of faith. Bible religion means constant work. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may  see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that  worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. We are to  be zealous of good works, be careful to maintain good works. And the  true Witness says: “I know thy works” (Revelation 2:2). {2SM 20.4}

The  religion of the Bible recognizes no caste or color. It ignores rank,  wealth, worldly honor. God estimates men as men. With Him, character  decides their worth. And we are to recognize the Spirit of Christ in  whomsoever it is revealed.—Testimonies for the Church 9:223. {2SM 486.3}

Thus  Christ sought to teach the disciples the truth that in God’s kingdom  there are no territorial lines, no caste, no aristocracy; that they must  go to all nations, bearing to them the message of a Saviour’s love.—The Acts of the Apostles, 20. {2SM 486.4}

Only the believer in Christ can receive life everlasting. Only by  continually feeding on Christ’s flesh and blood can we have the  assurance that we are partakers of the divine nature.  No one should be indifferent on this subject, saying, If we are honest,  it is no matter what we believe. You cannot with safety surrender any  seed of vital truth in order to please yourself or anybody else. Do not  seek to avoid the cross. If we receive no light from the Sun of  Righteousness, we have no connection with the Source of all light; and  if this life and light do not abide in us, we can never be saved. {1SM 299.2}

The love and justice of God, and also the immutability of His law, are  made manifest by the Saviour’s life, no less than by His death. He  assumed human nature, with its infirmities, its liabilities, its  temptations.... He was “in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15).  He exercised in His own behalf no power which man cannot exercise. As  man He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him of God. He  gives us an example of perfect obedience. He has provided that we may  become partakers of the divine nature,  and assures us that we may overcome as He overcame. His life testified  that by the aid of the same divine power which Christ received, it is  possible for man to obey God’s law.—Manuscript 141, 1901. {3SM 132.4}