March 6, 1888 Evidences of Genuine Faith.
[SERMON PREACHED AT
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By Mrs. E. G. White.
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Text: "For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works." Titus 2:11-14.
{RH, March 6, 1888 par. 1}
There is a great
work for us to do if we would inherit eternal life. We are to deny ungodliness
and worldly lusts, and live a life of righteousness. Many
teach that all that is necessary to salvation is to believe in Jesus; but what saith the word of truth?--"Faith without works
is dead." We are to "fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life," take up the cross, deny self, war against the flesh, and
follow daily in the footsteps of the Redeemer. There is no salvation for us
except in Jesus; for it is through faith in him that we receive power to become
the sons of God; but it is not merely a passing faith; it is faith that works
the works of Christ. Jesus has said, "If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." We have a part to
act as well as to believe; for we are to be judged according to our works. {RH, March 6, 1888 par. 2}
Living faith
makes itself manifest by exhibiting a spirit of sacrifice and devotion toward
the cause of God. Those who possess it stand under the banner of Prince
Emmanuel, and wage a successful warfare against the powers of darkness. They
stand ready to do whatsoever their Captain commands. Each one is exhorted to be
"an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
spirit, in faith, in purity;" for we are to "live soberly,
righteously, and godly" in this present evil world, representing the
character of Christ, and manifesting his Spirit. We are to follow in his
footsteps, as dear children. By beholding him, we are to be changed into the
same image, reflecting the light of heaven into the moral darkness of the
world. {RH, March 6, 1888 par. 3}
Genuine faith in
Jesus leads to denial of self; but however high the profession may be, if self
is exalted and indulged, the faith of Jesus is not in the heart. The true
Christian manifests by a life of daily consecration that he is bought with a
price, and is not his own. He realizes that an infinite sacrifice has been made
for him, and that his life is of inestimable value, through the merits of
Jesus' blood, intercession, and righteousness. But while he comprehends the
exalted privileges of the sons of God, his soul is filled with humility. There
is no boasting of holiness from the lips of those who walk in the shadow of
Is there not
occasion for humility? Is there not need of feeling our utter dependence upon
Christ every day and hour? Have we not walked in the ways of our own choosing,
and have we not found in this path only failure? We have "sinned, and come
short of the glory of God," and in order to save man, Jesus made an
infinite sacrifice. Nothing less than the life of God's beloved Son would
suffice to pay the heavy debt that we had incurred by breaking the law of God.
He took on him our nature, and became sin for us, that we might have
"remission of sins that are past," and through his divine strength
and grace, might fulfill the righteous requirements of the law. Whoever takes
the position that it makes no difference whether or not we keep the
commandments of God, is not acquainted with Christ.
Jesus says, "I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his
love;" and those who follow Jesus will do as he has done. The beloved
disciple writes, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
We cannot abide in the love of our Saviour, if we
trample under foot any part of that law which he came to "magnify"
and make "honorable," even to the cost of suffering the humiliation
and death of the cross. {RH, March 6,
1888 par. 5}
It is a fatal
mistake to think that there is nothing for you to do in obtaining salvation.
You are to cooperate with the agencies of heaven. We are exhorted to
"cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God." You want to take hold of the work
intelligently; and when you discern spiritual things, you will see that there
is a warfare before you. There is a cross to be lifted
in the pathway, a wall to be scaled before you enter the eternal city, a ladder
to be climbed before the gate of pearl is reached; and as you realize your
inability and weakness, and cry for help, a divine voice will come to you from
the battlements of heaven, saying, "Take hold of my strength."
"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world." {RH, March 6, 1888 par.
6}
Satan will seek
to entice you to enter into the paths of sin, promising that some wonderful
good will result from the transgression of God's law; but he is a deceiver. He
would only work your ruin, and the dishonor of the
name and cause of God; for every step away from the commandments of Jehovah
lessens your power to resist evil, and makes you more and more inefficient to
fulfill your obligations to God and man. Christ came to break the rule of the
evil one, to let the oppressed go free, to undo the heavy burden, and to bring
liberty to the captive. Man was so weakened through transgression that he did
not possess sufficient moral power to turn from the service of Satan to the
service of the only true God; but Jesus, the Prince of life, to whom is
committed "all power in heaven and earth," will impart to every soul
who desires salvation the strength necessary to overcome the enemy of all
righteousness. {RH, March 6, 1888 par.
7}
The controversy
that was waged between Christ and Satan is renewed over every soul that leaves
the black banner of the prince of darkness, to march under the blood stained
banner of Prince Emmanuel. The evil one will present the most subtle
allurements to draw those away from their allegiance who would be true to
Heaven; but we must yield all the powers of our being into the service of God,
and then we shall be kept from falling into the snares of the enemy. {RH, March 6, 1888 par. 8}
Says Paul,
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service." Any course of action that weakens your physical or
mental power, unfits you for the service of your
Creator. We are to love God with all our hearts, and, if we have an eye single
to his glory, we shall eat, drink, and clothe ourselves with reference to his
divine will. Every one who has a realizing sense of what it means to be a Christian, will purify himself from everything that weakens
and defiles. All the habits of his life will be brought into harmony with the
requirements of the word of truth, and he will not only believe, but will work
out his own salvation with fear and trembling, while submitting to the molding
of the Holy Spirit. {RH, March 6, 1888
par. 9}
Those who are
connected with Jesus are in union with the Maker and Upholder of all things.
They have a power that the world cannot give nor take away. But while great and
exalted privileges are given to them, they are not simply to rejoice in their
blessings. As stewards of the manifold grace of God, they are to become a
blessing to others. They are intrusted with great
truth, and "unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required." There are weighty responsibilities resting upon all who have
received the message for this time. They are to exert an influence that will
draw others to the light of God's word. "Even Christ pleased not
himself." He lived for the good of men, and we are to work the works of
Christ. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are our brother's keeper.
Christ "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." And
that faith which accomplishes this zeal in us is the only genuine faith. If the
branch is abiding in the True Vine, its union is made manifest by the fruit
that appears, for "by their fruits ye shall know them." {RH, March 6, 1888 par. 10}
If we are true believers in Jesus, we shall be gathering rays from glory, and we shall shed light on the darkened pathway of those around us. We shall reveal the gracious character of our Redeemer, and many will be drawn by our influence to "behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." And they will yield themselves to his service; for Jesus will be in them "a well of water springing up into everlasting life." And those who have honored his name, who have been co-laborers with him in seeking the salvation of souls, shall enter into his joy, and sit down on his throne, to share in his eternal glory. {RH, March 6, 1888 par. 11}