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A Faith That Purifies the Life, April 19
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the
good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also
called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1
Timothy 6:11, 12
.
Many teach that all that is necessary to salvation is to believe in Je-
sus, but what saith the word of truth?—“Faith without works is dead”
(
James 2:26
). 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....
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. ...
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” (
Isaiah 27:5
)....
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....
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
[116]
28
The Review and Herald, March 6, 1888
.
116