Saved Only “in Christ”
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we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for eternal deliverance. As
long as man is full of weakness—for of himself he cannot save his
soul—he should never dare to say, “I am saved.”
It is not he that putteth on the armor that can boast of the victory;
for he has the battle to fight and the victory to win. It is he that endureth
unto the end that shall be saved. [
Selected Messages 1:313-315
.]
Connection with Christ—Pretended or Real?
There are both believers and unbelievers in the church. Christ
represents these two classes in His parable of the vine and its branches.
He exhorts His followers: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in Me. I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for
without Me ye can do nothing.”
[43]
There is a wide difference between a pretended union and a real
connection with Christ by faith. A profession of the truth places men
in the church, but this does not prove that they have a vital connection
with the living Vine. A rule is given by which the true disciple may be
distinguished from those who claim to follow Christ but have not faith
in Him. The one class are fruit bearing, the other, fruitless. The one
are often subjected to the pruning knife of God that they may bring
forth more fruit; the other, as withered branches, are erelong to be
severed from the living Vine....
The fibers of the branch are almost identical with those of the
vine. The communication of life, strength, and fruitfulness from the
trunk to the branches is unobstructed and constant. The root sends its
nourishment through the branch. Such is the true believer’s relation to
Christ. He abides in Christ and draws his nourishment from Him.
It’s Personal
This spiritual relation can be established only by the exercise of
personal faith. This faith must express on our part supreme preference,
perfect reliance, entire consecration. Our will must be wholly yielded
to the divine will, our feelings, desires, interests, and honor identified
with the prosperity of Christ’s kingdom and the honor of His cause, we