Relation of Faith and Works
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God by Him. Never leave the impression on the mind that there is little
or nothing to do on the part of man; but rather teach man to cooperate
with God, that he may be successful in overcoming.
Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank
and position before God. In the judgment the sentence pronounced
is according to what has been done or to what has been left undone
(
Matthew 25:34-40
).
Effort and labor are required on the part of the receiver of God’s
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grace; for it is the fruit that makes manifest what is the character of the
tree. Although the good works of man are of no more value without
faith in Jesus than was the offering of Cain, yet covered with the merit
of Christ, they testify [to] the worthiness of the doer to inherit eternal
life. That which is considered morality in the world does not reach
the divine standard and has no more merit before Heaven than had the
offering of Cain.—
Manuscript 26a, 1892
.
While Submitting to the Holy Spirit
Everyone who has a realizing sense of what it means to be a Chris-
tian, will purify himself from everything that weakens and defiles. All
the habits of his life will be brought into harmony with the require-
ments 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.—
The Review and Herald, March 6, 1888
.
Jesus Accepts Our Intentions
When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to
this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service,
and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit. But
He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him, and yet are
disloyal to His Father’s commandment. We hear a great deal about
faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works. Many are
deceiving their own souls by living an easygoing, accommodating,
crossless religion. But Jesus says, “If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”—
The Signs
of the Times, June 16, 1890
.
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