Transformed
by His Grace—The Holy Spirit of Christ
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“They must have His
grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their
infirmities, or they cannot for a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us
come to Him, just as we are—sinful, helpless, dependent.” Faith and Works, p. 38. Chap. 55 - Transformed by Grace
In the life of the disciple
John true sanctification is exemplified. During the years of his close
association with Christ, he was often warned and cautioned by the Saviour;
and these reproofs he accepted. As the character of the Divine One was manifested
to him, John saw his own deficiencies, and was humbled by the revelation. Day
by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and
forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. Day by
day his heart was drawn out to Christ, until he lost sight of self in love
for his Master. The power and tenderness, the majesty and meekness, the
strength and patience, that he saw in the daily life of the
Son of God, filled his soul with admiration. He yielded his resentful,
ambitious temper to the molding power of Christ,
and divine love wrought in him a transformation of character. {AA 557.1}
In striking contrast to the sanctification worked out in the life of John is
the experience of his fellow disciple,
John and Judas are representatives of those who profess to be Christ's
followers. Both these disciples had the same opportunities to study and
follow the divine Pattern. Both were closely associated with Jesus and were
privileged to listen to His teaching. Each possessed serious defects of
character; and each had access to the divine grace that transforms character.
But while one in humility was learning of Jesus, the other revealed that he
was not a doer of the word, but a hearer only. One, daily dying to self and
overcoming sin, was sanctified through the truth; the other, resisting the
transforming power of grace and indulging selfish desires, was brought into
bondage to Satan.
Such transformation of character as is seen in the life of John is ever the
result of communion with Christ. There may be marked defects in the character
of an individual, yet when he becomes a true disciple of Christ, the power of
divine grace transforms and sanctifies him. Beholding as in a glass the glory
of the Lord, he is changed from glory to glory, until he is like Him whom he
adores. {AA 559.1}
John was a teacher of holiness, and in his letters to the church he laid down
unerring rules for the conduct of Christians. "Every man that hath this
hope in him," he wrote, "purifieth
himself, even as He is pure." "He that saith he abideth in Him
ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 3:3; 2:6. He
taught that the Christian must be pure in heart and life. Never should he be
satisfied with an empty profession. As God is holy in His sphere, so fallen
man, through faith in Christ, is to be holy in his sphere. {AA 559.2}
"This is the will of God," the apostle Paul wrote, "even your
sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The sanctification of the church
is God's object in all His dealings with His people. He has chosen them from eternity, that they might be holy. He gave His Son to die
for them, that they might be sanctified through obedience to the truth,
divested of all the littleness of self. From them He requires a personal
work, a personal surrender. God can be honored by those who profess to
believe in Him, only as they are conformed to His image and controlled by His
Spirit. Then, as witnesses for the Saviour, they may make known what divine
grace has done for them.
True sanctification comes through the working out of the principle of love.
"God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16. The life of him in
whose heart Christ abides, will reveal practical
godliness. The character will be purified, elevated, ennobled, and glorified.
Pure doctrine will blend with works of righteousness; heavenly precepts will
mingle with holy practices. {AA 560.1}
Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the
meaning of self-sacrifice. The cross of Christ is the central pillar on which
hangs the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
"If any man will come after Me," Christ says, "let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." 2 Corinthians 4:17;
Matthew 16:24. It is the fragrance of our love for our fellow men that
reveals our love for God. It is patience in service that brings rest to the
soul. It is through humble, diligent, faithful toil that the welfare of
Israel is promoted. God upholds and strengthens the one who is willing to
follow in Christ's way. {AA 560.2}
Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a
lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of
constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be
righted nor reformations wrought in the character by
feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore
discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall
overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So
long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to
overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no
None of the apostles and prophets ever claimed to be without sin. Men who
have lived the nearest to God, men who would sacrifice life itself rather
than knowingly commit a wrong act, men whom God has honored with divine light
and power, have confessed the sinfulness of their nature. They have put no
confidence in the flesh, have claimed no righteousness of their own, but have
trusted wholly in the righteousness of Christ. {AA 561.1}
So will it be with all who behold Christ. The nearer we come to Jesus, and
the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly
shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like
exalting ourselves. There will be a continual reaching out of the soul after
God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of
the heart before Him. At every advance step in our Christian experience our
repentance will deepen. We shall know that our sufficiency is in Christ alone
and shall make the apostle's confession our own: "I know that in me
(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing." "God forbid that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is
crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Romans 7:18; Galatians 6:14. {AA 561.2}
Let the recording angels write the history of the holy struggles and
conflicts of the people of God; let them record their prayers and tears; but
let not God be dishonored by the declaration from human lips, "I am
sinless; I am
The apostle Paul had been caught up to the third heaven and had seen and
heard things that could not be uttered, and yet his unassuming statement is:
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but
I follow after." Philippians 3:12. Let the angels of heaven write of Paul's
victories in fighting the good fight of faith. Let heaven rejoice in his
steadfast tread heavenward, and that, keeping the prize in view, he counts
every other consideration dross. Angels rejoice to tell his triumphs, but
Paul makes no boast of his attainments. The attitude of Paul is the attitude
that every follower of Christ should take as he urges his way onward in the
strife for the immortal crown. {AA 562.1}
Let those who feel inclined to make a high profession of holiness look into
the mirror of God's law. As they see its far-reaching claims, and understand
its work as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, they will
not boast of sinlessness. "If we," says John, not separating
himself from his brethren, "say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us." "If we say that we have not
sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." "If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8, 10, 9. {AA 562.2}
There are those who profess holiness, who declare that they are wholly the
Lord's, who claim a right to the promises of God, while refusing to render
obedience to His
John did not teach that salvation was to be earned by obedience; but that
obedience was the fruit of faith and love. "Ye
know that He was manifested to take away our sins," he said, "and
in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth
hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:5, 6. If we abide in
Christ, if the love of God dwells in the heart, our feelings, our thoughts,
our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God. The sanctified heart is
in harmony with the precepts of God's law. {AA 563.1}
There are many who, though striving to obey God's commandments, have little
peace or joy. This lack in their experience is the result of a failure to
exercise faith. They walk as it were in a salt land, a parched wilderness.
They claim little, when they might claim much; for there is no
Prayer is heaven's ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the
development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer
to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for
which he pleads. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His
work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is, "Ye
shall receive." {AA 564.1}
It was in the mount with God that Moses beheld the pattern of that wonderful
building that was to be the abiding place of His glory. It is in the mount
with God--in the secret place of communion--that we are to contemplate His
glorious ideal for humanity. In all ages, through the medium of communion
with heaven, God has worked out His purpose for His children, by unfolding
gradually to their minds the doctrines of grace. His manner of imparting
truth is illustrated in the words, "His going forth is prepared as the
morning." Hosea 6:3. He who places himself
where God can enlighten him, advances, as it were, from the partial obscurity
of dawn to the full radiance of noonday.
True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect
conformity to the will of God. We are to be sanctified to God through
obedience to the truth. Our conscience must be purged from dead works to
serve the living God. We are not yet perfect; but it is our privilege to cut
away from the entanglements of self and sin, and advance to perfection. Great
possibilities, high and holy attainments, are placed within the reach of all.
{AA 565.1}
The reason many in this age of the world make no greater advancement in the
divine life is because they interpret the will of God to be just what they
will to do. While following their own desires, they flatter themselves that
they are conforming to God's will. These have no conflicts with self. There
are others who for a time are successful in the struggle against their
selfish desire for pleasure and ease. They are sincere and earnest, but grow
weary of protracted effort, of daily death, of ceaseless turmoil. Indolence
seems inviting, death to self repulsive; and they close their drowsy eyes and
fall under the power of temptation instead of resisting it. {AA 565.2}
The directions laid down in the word of God leave no room for compromise with
evil. The Son of God was manifested that He might draw all men unto Himself.
He came not to lull the world to sleep, but to point out the narrow path in
which all must travel who reach at last the gates of the City of God. His
children must follow where He has led the way; at whatever sacrifice of ease
or selfish indulgence, at whatever cost of labor or suffering, they must
maintain a constant battle with self.
The greatest praise that men can bring to God is to become consecrated
channels through whom He can work. Time is rapidly passing into eternity. Let
us not keep back from God that which is His own. Let us not refuse Him that
which, though it cannot be given with merit, cannot be denied without ruin. He asks for a whole
heart; give it to Him; it is His, both by creation and by redemption. He asks
for your intellect; give it to Him; it is His. He asks for your money; give
it to Him; it is His. "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a
price." 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. God requires the homage of a sanctified
soul, which has prepared itself, by the exercise of the faith that works by
love, to serve Him. He holds up before us the highest ideal, even perfection.
He asks us to be absolutely and completely for Him in this world as He is for
us in the presence of God. {AA 566.1}
"This is the will of God" concerning you, "even your
sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Is it your will also? Your sins
may be as mountains before you; but if you humble your heart and confess your
sins, trusting in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour,
He will forgive and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. God demands of
you entire conformity to His law. This law is the echo of His voice saying to
you, Holier, yes, holier still. Desire the fullness of the grace of Christ.
Let your heart be filled with an intense longing for His righteousness, the
work of which God's word declares is peace, and its effect quietness and
assurance forever.
As your soul yearns after God, you will find more and still more of the
unsearchable riches of His grace. As you contemplate these riches you will
come into possession of them and will reveal the merits of the Saviour's sacrifice, the protection of His
righteousness, the fullness of His wisdom, and His power to present you
before the Father "without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14. {AA 567.1} |
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