Seite 211 - Testimonies for the Church Volume 6 (1901)

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Unity in our Work
207
Those who, through an intelligent understanding of the Scriptures,
view the cross aright, those who truly believe in Jesus, have a sure
foundation for their faith. They have that faith which works by love and
purifies the soul from all its hereditary and cultivated imperfections.
God has united believers in church capacity in order that one may
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strengthen another in good and righteous endeavor. The church on
earth would indeed be a symbol of the church in heaven if the members
were of one mind and of one faith. It is those who are not moved by
the Holy Spirit that mar God’s plan. Another spirit takes possession
of them, and they help to strengthen the forces of darkness. Those
who are sanctified by the precious blood of Christ will not become the
means of counterworking the great plan which God has devised. They
will not bring human depravity into things small or great. They will
do nothing to perpetuate division in the church.
It is true there are tares among the wheat; in the body of Sab-
bathkeepers evils are seen; but because of this shall we disparage the
church? Shall not the managers of every institution, the leaders of
every church, take up the work of purification in such a way that the
transformation in the church shall make it a bright light in a dark place?
What may not even one believer do in the exercise of pure, heavenly
principles if he refuses to be contaminated, if he will stand as firm as a
rock to a “Thus saith the Lord”? Angels of God will come to his help,
preparing the way before him.
Paul wrote to the Romans: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:1, 2
. This entire chapter is a lesson
which I entreat all who claim to be members of the body of Christ to
study. Again Paul wrote: “If the first fruit be holy, the lump is also
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holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the
branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted
in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of
the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou
bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches
were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief
they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded,