Warnings Against Sensational Teachings and Emotional Religion
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When the Lord has a genuine channel of light, there are always
plenty of counterfeits. Satan will surely enter any door thrown open
for him. He will give messages of truth mingling with the truth ideas
of his own, prepared to mislead souls, to draw the mind to human
beings and their sayings, and prevent it from holding firmly to a “Thus
saith the Lord.” In God’s dealings with His people, all is quiet; with
those who trust in Him, all is calm and unpretending. There will be
simple, true, earnest believers in the Bible, and there will be doers of
the Word as well as hearers. There will be sound, earnest, sensible
waiting upon God.—
Letter 102, 1894
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The Example of Christ
Let not anyone be afraid of going to extremes while he is a close
student of the Word, humbling the soul at every step. Christ must dwell
in him by faith. He, their Exemplar, was self-possessed. He walked
in humility. He had true dignity. He had patience. If we individually
possess these traits of character, who accept justification by faith, there
will be no extremists....
The example of Christ is before us, ever to keep the law and the
gospel closely connected. They cannot be separated. Let calmness
and self-possession be cultivated and perseveringly maintained, for
this was the character of Christ. We hear the vehement expressions
of false religionists who make bold pretensions, who talk loud and
long, saying, “I am holy, I am sinless,” when they have not the least
foundation for their faith. We hear no noisy protestations of faith, nor
do we see tremendous bodily contortions and exercises in the Author
of all truth.
Remember in Him dwelt all the fullness of the God-head bodily.
If Christ is abiding in our hearts by faith, we shall, by beholding the
manner of His life, seek to be like Jesus, pure, peaceable, and undefiled.
We shall reveal Christ in our character. We will not only receive and
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absorb light but will also diffuse it. We will have more clear and
distinct views of what Jesus is to us. The symmetry, loveliness, and
benevolence that were in the life of Jesus Christ will be shining forth
in our lives.—
Manuscript 24, 1890
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