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Belief in Him Means Everlasting Life, January 17
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.
John 3:36
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When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession
of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish
for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into
human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress,
which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall
be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly
agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan
Christ is ready to impart all heavenly influences. He knows every
temptation that comes to man, and the capabilities of every human agent.
He weighs his strength. He sees the present and the future, and presents
before the mind the obligations that should be met, and urges that common,
earthly things shall not be permitted to be so absorbing that eternal things
shall be lost out of reckoning
The gifts of His grace through Christ are free to all. There is no
election but one’s own by which any may perish. God has set forth in
His Word the conditions upon which every soul will be elected to eternal
life—obedience to His commandments, through faith in Christ. God has
elected a character in harmony with His law, and any one who shall reach
the standard of His requirement, will have an entrance into the kingdom of
glory. Christ Himself said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life.
What an exalted position to be identified with one in whom is all
perfection centered, who is indeed the Majesty of heaven, but who loved
us, although fallen, so much that language cannot express it! He for our
sakes laid aside His royal robe, stepped down from the throne of heaven,
and condescended to clothe His divinity with humility, and became like
one of us except in sin, that His life and character should be a pattern for
all to copy, that they might have the precious gift of eternal life
[24]
52
The Desire of Ages, 324
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53
The Youth’s Instructor, July 5, 1894
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54
Patriarchs and Prophets, 207
.
55
The Youth’s Instructor, October 20, 1886
.
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