I know a similar thread has been started before, but read something today that made me want to start this thread.
A "conservative" pastor wrote this regarding a survey among SDA teens:
"a mind-blowing 81 percent of teenegers believed that they "must live by God's rules in order to be saved.""
Now that statement sounds perfectly fine to me, so I'm wondering what the pastor is seeing that I am not. The only thing I can think of, is that he is talking ONLY about getting our names in the Book of Life. Of course it is all a free gift from God. To think that we can add something to the value of Jesus' blood is like saying adding zero to infinity somehow makes the number of infinity bigger. It is ridiculous to even imagine it.
However, to KEEP our names in the Book of Life, there most definitely is an effort required on our part.
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:4-5
Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14
Three Fold nature of being a Christian like every coin - it has three sides - Heads - Tails - Edge representing the total nature of what it is made of.
1. Union with Father God, and Christ, and the Holy Ghost on their stated terms in the Bible, with heart reception engrafting of Their life and offered character from above, and active human union with them cheerfully. John 3:3 -21; 1st Peter 1:13-2:8; John Chapters 14 and 15 and 16 and 17; 1st Corinthians Chapter 13; Ephesians 3:8-21; 1 John 3:10, 14; 1 John 4:8,20 .
2 . The understanding, adorning and heartfelt obedience, engrafting of all the doctrines of the Bible and the testifying of Jesus Christ. Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:2-20; Luke 8:4-15; James 1:17-27; 1st Timothy 4:13 - 16; 2nd John 1:9-11; Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 14:7 ( Deuteronomy 10: 12,13,16, 20; Deuteronomy 30:2,6 onward - verse 16-19.)
3. Human relationships on Gods terms. Matthew Chapters 5 - 7 The Sermon on the Mount, and Pauls writings .
God imparts His blessing to us, that we may give to others. And as long as we yield ourselves as the channels through which His love can flow, He will keep the channels supplied. When you ask God for your daily bread, He looks right into your heart to see if you will impart the same to others, more needy than yourself. When you pray, "God be merciful to me a sinner," He watches to see if you will manifest compassion to those with whom you associate. This is the evidence of our connection with God,--that we are merciful even as our Father who is in heaven is merciful. If we are His, we shall do with a cheerful heart just what He tells us to do, however inconvenient, however contrary it may be to our own feelings. . . . {CS 164.3}
Wherever there is union with Christ there is love. Whatever other fruits we may bear, if love be missing, they profit nothing. Love to God and our neighbor is the very essence of our religion. No one can love Christ and not love His children. When we are united to Christ, we have the mind of Christ. Purity and love shine forth in the character, meekness and truth control the life. The very expression of the countenance is changed. Christ abiding in the soul exerts a transforming power, and the outward aspect bears witness to the peace and joy that reign within. We drink in the love of Christ, as the branch draws nourishment from the vine. If we are grafted in Christ, if fiber by fiber we have been united with the Living Vine, we shall give evidence of the fact by bearing rich clusters of living fruit. If we are connected with the Light, we shall be channels of light, and in our words and works we shall reflect light to the world. Those who are truly Christians are bound with the chain of love which links earth to heaven, which binds finite man to the infinite God. The light that shines in the face of Jesus Christ shines in the hearts of His followers, to the glory of God. {1SM 337.2}
The qualities which it is essential for all to possess are those which marked the completeness of Christ's character--His love, His patience, His unselfishness, and His goodness. These attributes are gained by doing kindly actions with a kindly heart. But Christ's requirements are not met by His people today. A strange deception is upon the people of God. Selfishness prevents the union which should exist. True love for one another is rare in our churches. This lack of love reveals most certainly that the members do not love God as they suppose they do. They give evidence that they need to be sanctified. {21MR 411.2}
It is the greatest and most fatal deception to suppose that a man can have faith unto life eternal without possessing Christlike love for his brethren. He who loves God and his neighbor is filled with light and love. God is in him and all around him. Christians love those around them as precious souls for whom Christ has died. There is no such thing as a loveless Christian, for "God is love." [1 John 2:3-5, 8-11; John 13:34, 35; 15:12, quoted.]--Ms 133, 1899. {21MR 411.3}
"How few bear in mind that the tempter was once a covering cherub, a being whom God created for His own name's glory. Satan fell from his high position through self-exaltation; he misused the high capabilities with which God had so richly endowed him. He fell for the same reason that thousands are falling today, because of an ambition to be first, an unwillingness to be under restraint. The Lord would teach man the lesson that, though united in church capacity, he is not saved until the seal of God is placed upon him, and he is made complete in Christ. {11MR 367.2}
"made complete in Christ" = 19 hits
" It is a serious thing to grieve the Holy Spirit; and it is grieved when the human agent seeks to work himself, and refuses to enter the service of the Lord because the cross is too heavy, or the self-denial too great. The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul. If it is welcomed as an honored guest, those who receive it will be made complete in Christ. {AG 216.4}
Are we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us--the perfection of His character? When the Lord's people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording angel will declare, "It is finished." {AG 216.5}
****************
"The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. In mind, in purpose, in character, they are one,but not in person. By partaking of the Spirit of God, conforming to the law of God, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ brings His disciples into a living union with Himself and with the Father. Through the working of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, man is made complete in Christ Jesus.Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity with one another. This unity is the most convincing proof to the world of the majesty and virtue of Christ, and of His power to take away sin. {OFC 36.3}
The powers of darkness stand a poor chance against believers who love one another as Christ has loved them, who refuse to create alienation and strife, who stand together, who are kind, courteous, and tender-hearted, cherishing the faith that works by love and purifies the soul. We must have the Spirit of Christ, or we are none of His. {OFC 36.4}
In unity there is strength; in division there is weakness. {OFC 36.5}
The closer our union with Christ, the closer will be our union with one another. Variance and disaffection, selfishness and conceit, are striving for supremacy. These are the fruits of a divided heart, open to the suggestions of the enemy of souls. Satan exults when he can sow seeds of dissension. {OFC 36.6}
In unity there is a life, a power, that can be obtained in no other way. {OFC 36.7}
I would only add that Salvation is a gift of Love, of God who alone is Good. He gave of Himself and came in Jesus in the fullness of time in the Body prepared Him. His statement to Philip makes this clear and the second verse following He states, but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Joh 14:10
This tells us something, Yes, Jesus was the Father with us in a body of flesh! So we also know that all that was heaped on Jesus was heaped upon the Father also!
Salvation comes to us from Love and Grace and Mercy of Both Yahweh our Father and Jesus Christ His one and only begotten beloved Son who laid down His life and shed His Blood!
In Jesus Christ the blood of God was shed.
Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Yes and the Church is His people, each a lively stone making up the temple of the living God, His Body, His Bride of which He is coming soon to take up.
1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1Jo 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Many good quotes here to ponder. Especially this one is succinct: "It is the greatest and most fatal deception to suppose that a man can have faith unto life eternal without possessing Christlike love for his brethren."
I read all 4820 paragraphs of the 1888 Materials over a 5 year period, ending this year, so made a video about the interesting things I found and put it up on youtube. It was quite evident that God did not give Ellen White specific instruction on the doctrinal issues in the case. What she said many times tho, was that the attitude and actions of the "leading brethren" at that time were contrary to Christ-like principles.
It just hit me today that THIS was the crux of the 1888 Message - to live like Jesus.
To live like Christ and reflect His image in our person, is the full embodiment of the law in our being just as it is for Christ. To love God with all your heart and love your fellow man as yourself.
In essence the teens are right in that we must all obey...but it is from the heart/mind that we naturally obey and not that outward display only.
How to Live is given to us in the book of James and SOP explains it all in detail over and over. To try of our own strength is futile as Satan will destroy us. Only way is through Christ's blood and life.
As this old world waxes old we must continue to take steps to rid our life from sin and take on the nature of Christ.
