Chapter 6—Our Safety Against Delusions
Sincerity Alone Will Not Save
Faith in a lie will not have a sanctifying influence upon the life
or character. No error is truth, or can be made truth by repetition, or
by faith in it. Sincerity will never save a soul from the consequences
of believing an error. Without sincerity there is no true religion, but
sincerity in a false religion will never save a man. I may be perfectly
sincere in following a wrong road, but that will not make it the right
road, or bring me to the place I wished to reach. The Lord does not
want us to have a blind credulity, and call that the faith that sanctifies.
The truth is the principle that sanctifies, and therefore it becomes
us to know what is truth. We must compare spiritual things with
spiritual. We must prove all things, but hold fast only that which is
good, that which bears the divine credentials, which lays before us the
true motives and principles which should prompt us to action.—
Letter
12, 1890
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An Outward Transformation of Character
As long as individuals are content with a theory of truth, and are
yet lacking in the daily operation of the Spirit of God upon the heart,
which is manifested in outward transformation of character, they are
cutting themselves off from the qualification that would fit them for
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greater efficiency in the Master’s work. Those who are devoid of the
Holy Spirit cannot be faithful watchmen upon the walls of Zion; for
they are blind to the work that ought to be done, and do not give the
trumpet a certain sound.
The baptism of the Holy Ghost as on the day of Pentecost will lead
to a revival of true religion and to the performance of many wonderful
works. Heavenly intelligences will come among us, and men will
speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit of God. But should
the Lord work upon men as He did on and after the day of Pentecost,
many who now claim to believe the truth would know so very little
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