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Selected Messages Book 1
If men would return to their loyalty, and no longer transgress, they
would receive pardon.
Christ in the weakness of humanity was to meet the temptations of
one possessing the powers of the higher nature that God had bestowed
on the angelic family. But Christ’s humanity was united with divinity,
and in this strength He would bear all the temptations that Satan could
bring against Him, and yet keep His soul untainted by sin. And this
power to overcome He would give to every son and daughter of Adam
who would accept by faith the righteous attributes of His character.
God loved the world so dearly that He gave His only-begotten Son
that whosoever would accept Him might have power to live His righ-
teous life. Christ proved that it is possible for man to lay hold by faith
on the power of God. He showed that the sinner, by repentance and
the exercise of faith in the righteousness of Christ, can be reconciled
to God, and become a partaker of the divine nature, overcoming the
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corruption that is in the world through lust.
Today Satan presents the same temptations that he presented to
Christ, offering us the kingdoms of the world in return for our alle-
giance. But upon him who looks to Jesus as the author and finisher of
his faith, Satan’s temptations have no power. He cannot cause to sin
the one who will accept by faith the virtues of Him who was tempted
in all points as we are, yet without sin.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” He who repents of his sin and accepts the gift of the life of the
Son of God, cannot be overcome. Laying hold by faith of the divine
nature, he becomes a child of God. He prays, he believes. When
tempted and tried, he claims the power that Christ died to give, and
overcomes through His grace. This every sinner needs to understand.
He must repent of his sin, he must believe in the power of Christ, and
accept that power to save and to keep him from sin. How thankful
ought we to be for the gift of Christ’s example!
Seek Not to Evade the Cross
Profound theories and speculations of human creation may abound,
but he who would come off conqueror in the end, must be humble
enough to depend upon divine power. When we thus grasp the power